Town to reconsider fee structure for permits

Town of Saukville supervisors have directed staff members to look at the permit fee structure after learning the town charges less than other communities.

Clerk Raquel Engelke told supervisors at Tuesday’s Town Board meeting that Zoning Administrator Walt Grotelueschen, who serves several other area communities, told her the permit fees are “significantly lower” than those charged by other towns.

For instance, Engelke said, she compared what the town charges to what the Town of Port Washington and Newburg list on their websites.

She discovered that the Town of Saukville charges $25 for a base plumbing permit compared to $50 in the Town of Port Washington and $40 in the Village of Newburg; $25 for base electric permits compared to $40 in Port and $50 in Newburg; $50 for a culvert permit compared to $100 in the Town of Port; and $35 for a fireplace compared to $50 in both the Town of Port and in Newburg.

In addition, the Town of Port and Newburg charge $75 and $100, respectively, for a raze permit while the Town of Saukville does not charge for the permit and only requires a waiver.

Town Treasurer Gloria Arredondo noted that in the fourth quarter of 2019, the town collected $2,177.80 in fees but netted just $494.46, with the zoning administrator being paid $1,683.34 from the total amount.

Supr. Curt Rutkowski said that while the base electric permit fee is lower than the other two communities, the town also charges 50 cents per outlet and switch while Newburg does not. The Town of Port Washington charges 40 cents per outlet and switch.        Supr. Mike Denzien questioned what is the purpose of charging fees.

 “There’s a cost, of course, but is it actually meant to generate revenue?” he asked.

“I think at one time it was looked at that way,” Town Chairman Don Hamm said. “Now, with the little bit they bring in, I’d argue pretty heavily that it’s not doing much to keep taxes down.”

 Rutkowski responded, “(Grotelueschen) said it for a reason. I guess I’d like to follow up.”

The board directed Engelke and Grotelueschen to provide a more thorough list of comparisons to be reviewed at the Town Board meeting in February.