La Palma adopts "User Fee Schedule" during council meeting

By Loreen Berlin

La Palma City Council adopted the “User fee Schedule” during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday, Aug. 3. The User Fee Schedule passed by five yes votes.
Finance Director Keith Neves reported that after two study sessions held Jan. 19 and June 1, Council gave direction to maintain the fees at the existing levels, except for those that are found to be higher than the actual cost.
“Some fees have been combined, renamed, and added, to conform to existing practices,” Neves said in his report. “Staff will look into resident and non-resident usage fees at a later date.”
Passing the User Fee Schedule as is, will result in a decrease in General Fund revenue of approximately $6,500, Neves said, and the Schedule will be reviewed annually with the budget.
Neves said that La Palma’s fees continue to be lower than surrounding community’s fees.
The last La Palma fee study was in 2003 and the last increases were in the fiscal year 2006-2007.
“The consultant recommends annual updating of the Fee Schedule based on city labor costs.”
La Palma currently uses $1.6 million in taxes to support fee or potential-fee services and roughly $150,600 could be recovered by requiring certain services to either “pay their own way” or at least pay more of their own way, Neves said
For La Palma City information, call 714-690-3333.
Loreen Berlin can be reached at loreenberlin@verizon.net