THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 31, 1996 TAG: 9607310464
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 64 lines
An 85 percent increase in Pasquotank County's building inspection fees helps balance the budget but chafes contractors.
``I don't think it's fair to first-time home builders,'' said Robert Miller, a contractor in Pasquotank County. ``I'm sure I'll lose some jobs because of it.''
As of July 23, a building permit for an average home costs $250 more than last year.
Inspections for a 1,700-square-foot home will cost $550. Last year the same inspections cost $300. The general contractor pays the fee when he gets the building permit.
``The thought was that the ones using the inspection services would pay for them, rather than everybody's tax dollars having to pay for them,'' said Rodney Bunch, director of Pasquotank County's planning department.
County commissioners originally asked Bunch to figure rates so that the inspection department paid for itself, as the water department does. The $146,000 annual budget of the inspection department required a 140 percent increase in fees. That meant new home inspections would be more than double what they were last year.
County commissioners decided to scale down the increase after some local contractors disagreed with the increase.
Danny Chandler, a contractor and former president of the Northeastern North Carolina Home Builders Association, happened to be at a commission meeting when the fee increase was brought up. He and others worked to convince commissioners to lower the fees. Still, the adjusted increase is too high, say contractors.
``I'm afraid it's going to have an adverse effect,'' said Chandler. ``I see that it needed to be increased, but not this much. I wish it was not such a large jump at one time. It's unfortunate for low-income homeowners.''
In a meeting last week, Zee Lamb was the lone commissioner who voted against any increase.
``We just keep raising fees and taxes,'' said Lamb Tuesday. ``I didn't see any need to increase building inspection fees.'' Lamb said commissioners learned there was an extra $139,000 in the general fund at the end of June, the deadline for the new year's budget.
``That offsets the need to raise the building inspection fees at this time,'' said Lamb. ``We don't need to create more road blocks for people who want to own a home.''
``I supported an increase to offset the costs of inspections,'' said County Commissioner Horace Pritchard. ``I thought the first figures were too high.''
Pasquotank County also raised water tap-on fees recently from $800 to $1,500.
``Five hundred dollars here, five hundred dollars there. It adds up,'' said Ed Winslow, a contractor and vice president of Northeastern North Carolina Home Builders Association. ``The lower-income people always take a hit.''
The county requires an inspection of new homes, manufactured or mobile homes, and commercial buildings to ensure they meet codes. Each home requires inspections of construction, electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, LP gas, and insulation. In 1995-96, inspectors issued permits for 92 new homes, 120 mobile homes and 14 commercial buildings.
Pasquotank County had not raised inspection fees since 1992, when it added a second building inspector. The new rates compare well with surrounding counties, said Bunch. Currituck and Perquimans are lower, and Dare and Camden are higher. Elizabeth City's rates are lower.
``On the long term,'' Winslow said, ``the higher rates are going to have an adverse effect.'' by CNB