TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl Bratton, County Counsel
REPORT BY: Ryan FitzGerald, Deputy County Counsel
SUBJECT: Adoption of an Ordinance establishing, increasing, decreasing, and repealing fees to be charged by the Napa County Assessor, Recorder-County Clerk, and Department of Information Technology Services.
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt an Ordinance establishing, increasing, decreasing, and repealing fees to be charged by the Napa County Assessor, Recorder-County Clerk, and Department of Information Technology Services. (Fiscal Impact: Marginal Revenue; General Fund; Not Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
State law allows government agencies to recover the cost of providing certain services by charging fees to those receiving the services. Napa County establishes fees for services and periodically updates those fees. Some fees may be established by resolution while others require ordinances, depending on the particular fee and state law.
MGT recently prepared an addendum (2025 Addendum) to the 2024 Study which recommends changes to fees for departments and divisions not included in the 2024 Study, as well as revisions to fees for some of the departments and divisions that were included in the 2024 Study. These departments include the Assessor, Recorder-County Clerk, and Information Technology Services - Geographic Information Services (GIS). MGT used FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 budgeted expenditures, staffing costs and operational information in preparing for the 2025 Addendum.
The proposed ordinance was noticed properly and introduced at the Board of Supervisors’ May 6, 2025 regular meeting. The Board, by unanimous vote, indicated its intent to adopt the ordinance.
Staff is requesting the Board adopt the proposed ordinance establishing, increasing, decreasing, and repealing fees to be charged by the Napa County Assessor, Recorder-County Clerk, and Department of Information Technology Services. If adopted, the Fee Matrix will be updated to reflect the changes adopted by this ordinance and maintained by the CEO’s Office.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
No |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The County may establish fees to recover the cost of providing certain services from those receiving the services. Generally, fees must be lowered if they exceed the cost of providing the services, and fees should be increased if they are less than the cost of providing services to avoid General Fund tax revenues subsidizing the services. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Revenues better offset expenses. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
General Fund tax revenues will subsidize delivery of services in some instances. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is statutorily exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15273(a)(1) as fees necessary to meet operating expenses, including employee wage rates and fringe benefits, and 15273(a)(2) as fees for the purchase or leasing supplies, equipment, or materials.