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Home My WebLink AboutWORKSHOP re Budget for DCD PresentationDepartment of Community Developmen 2026 Budget Overview Balancing Growth, Services, and Sustainability Chelsea Pronovost, Interim Directo Greg Ballard, Development Code Administrat Phil Cecere, Building Official/Fire Marsha Agenda •Department Overview •Historical Data •2026 Financial Overview •General Fund Request & Divisional Breakdown •Summary & Closing Department Overview Permitting Land UseInspections Policy Code Compliance Fire Marshal Administration Special Projects Boards & Commissions “To preserve and enhance the quality of life in Jefferson Coun by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment.” Director(Vacant) Administrative Services Manager Permit Center Coordinator .8 FTE Community Development Tech I - Lead Planning Tech - Lead Community Development Tech II .3 FTE Planning Commission Clerk - Clerk Hire Community Development Tech I Building Official/Fire Marshal (Vacant) Deputy Fire Marshal Plans Examiner(Vacant) Building Inspector I Building & Fire Inspector - Clerk Hire Building Inspector II Development Code Administrator Code Compliance Coordinator Associate Planner - Lead Assistant Planner Associate Planner Principal Planner Associate Planner - Lead Associate Planner -Lead .9 FTE Assistant Planner (Vacant) Associate Planer - Lead Department of Community Development (DCD) Organizational Chart 2026 Q1 Represents 21.39 DCD FTE:19 Full-Time3 Part-Time (.3-.9 FTE)1 Clerk Hire Separate Budget:1 Planning Commission Clerk Hire Historical Data Staffing Levels Revenue Source Trends by Year Expenditure Source Trends by Year 2025 Notable Department Projects Short-Term Rental Program Launch 29 STRs permitted prior to new program 23 New applications since April 2025 Completion of Paper to Digital Grant Implemented Tyler Business Module Purchased MS Surface Pros for Building and Fire teams Significant decrease in permit issuance times - between January 2023 and August 2025, permit issuance times have decreased: 56% for RBLDs, now averaging 64 days in 2025 64% for CBLDs, now averaging 40 days in 2025 75% for SDRs, now averaging 46 days in 2025 2025 Notable Department Projects Cont. Critical Areas Ordinance Update (adoption expected in 2026) Technical work and legal review completed Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update (adoption expected late 2025 or early 2026) GMA Periodic Update Grant successfully concluded Technical work completed, under legal review Commercial Fire Inspection Program Launch 280 letters sent to businesses, 30 in-person follow-ups 8 Commercial inspections completed Two major development project hearings Mason Street and Pleasant Harbor MPR 2026 Financial Overview 2026 Budgeted Revenue & Expenditures Key Takeaway: A balanced budget is only possible with a beginning fund balance and Ge Source Amount Plan Checking Fees $367,245 Building Permits $698,632 Building Permit Renewals $74,277 Environmental Review/SEPA $12,720 Zoning & Subdivision Fees $14,758 Land Use Application Fees $281,631 Shoreline Development Fees $23,788 Revenue Breakdown Source Amount Addressing Fees $36,456 Fire Marshal Plan Review $10,680 Fire Marshal Fees & Insp $12,600 Record Retention Fee $38,707 Pleasant Harbor Opr Costs (Passthrough)$100,000 Total Revenue $1,671,494 Non-Discretionary Expenditure Breakdown Source (Non-Discretionary)Amount Salaries & Benefits $2,187,909 Interfund $255,822 Rent $74,473 Vehicles $48,000 Phones $4,931 Advertising $5,201 Dues & Subscriptions $16,832 Source (Non-Discretionary)Amount Postage $2,000 Mailing Machine Lease $1,308 Pleasant Harbor Opr Costs $100,000 Insurance $98,661 Customer Refunds incl. CASPs $63,730 Misc. (Notice to Title, Longevity)$6,780 Total Non-Discretionary Expenditures $2,865,647 Discretionary Expenditure Breakdown Source (Discretionary)Amount Operating Supplies (paper, pens, etc)$7,850 Small Tools & Minor Equipment $1,500 Professional Services (incl. Plans Examining)$40,000 Building Team Training* $8,663 Building Team Travel $2,500 All other Department Training & Travel $0 Misc. & Printing $600 Total Discretionary Expenditures $61,113 *Continued investment in the Building team training helps sustain our BCEGS rating of 3, a key factor in keeping community insurance premiums low. •Maximizing asset lifespan by repurposing a “second life” department vehicle rather than purchasing new. •Restricting travel and training budgets to essential certifications only (Building Division – WSRB BCEGS compliance). •Utilizing professional services only as needed to maintain permit processing capacity during staff transition (Plans Examiner vacancy). •Maintaining lean operating supply budgets - covering only essential office and field materials. •Continuing internal process improvements (Lean initiatives) to reduce inefficiencies and reliance on external support. Responsible Budget Management 2026 General Fund Request $1,055,416 General Fund Request Our department is requesting General Fund support to help offset unavoidable increase operational costs. Interfund costs are increasing approximately 25% over the 2025 amount, and rent is increasing by 16.4%. Meanwhile, permit fees, our primary funding mechanism, have historically increased by only around 2% annually. The department does not have other means to absorb these increases. Interfund & Rent Voluntary Commercial Fire Inspection program has not generated the expected revenue, and Deputy Fire Marshal position is therefore largely unfunded by collected fees. Other responsibilities of this position that do not have associated fees include: •Fire investigations •Community outreach •Hearings •Special event review •Projects such as the Coordinated Water System Plan (CWSP) and Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Office of the Fire Marshal Fire Safety Inspections & Plan Reviews (JCC 2.40.020 (1)) 2025: 41 inspections | 23 plan reviews | 8 Commercial Inspections No direct funding for: Fire & Arson Investigations (JCC 2.40.020 (1)) 31 fire investigations 22 structure fires (1 fatality) 9 wildland fire investigations 20 Public Records Requests processed so far in 2025 Burn Restrictions & Enforcement (JCC 2.40.020 (4), 8.72.040, 8.72.25) Monitor danger/risk levels and enforce burn regulations Public Outreach (JCC 2.40.020 (3)) Signs for burn regulations and fireworks Responded to 5 calls for service July 4th Office of the Fire Marshal Cont. Long-Range Planning Long-Range Planning (LRP) is the arm of Community Development that focuses on policy, planning, an guiding future county growth, and is required to comply with the Growth Management Act. Permit fees c fund this work (RCW 82.02.020) and General Fund support is required to carry out LRP initiatives. Key Responsibilities: 2025 Comprehensive Plan Update – land use, housing, climate, parks, natural resources, and economic development. Urban Growth Area Planning – Irondale & Port Hadlock zoning updates, sewer integration, and public workshops. Land Use Planning – balancing rural preservation with urban growth and infrastructure needs. Critical Areas Ordinance Update – protecting wetlands, wildlife habitats, and geologically hazardous areas. 2026 Long-Range Planning Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update and Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO) work will carry over to 2026 Shoreline Master Program will pick back up Tied to CAO, but separate mandate For development near/in proximity to critical areas Must be periodically updated to maintain consistency with state law Unified Development Code omnibus update Updating changes in state law (like unit subdivision that was updated in 2025) RCW 58.17 changes, look at our code to make sure they are consistent with state changes Onsite sewage changes to 18.12 and reference to legal lot of record, need to make sure everything is in lin Consideration of site specific Comprehensive Plan proposals Glen Cove planning project Airport Master Plan Code Compliance is focused on voluntary compliance and does not have a means with which to collect fees to support staffing. Often, if fees are assessed, a settlement agreement is reached with the property owner when they come into compliance. If fees are collected, they go into an abatement fund, not to the department to support salaries and benefits. So far in 2025 our Code Compliance Coordinator has fielded: 297 phone calls totaling over 35 hours 58 complaints received via online portal 3868 Emails Code Compliance Administration and Permit Center Coordinator The administrative side of Community Development supports every function of the departm but cannot be funded by permit fees under RCW 82.02.020. General Fund support ensures continuity in: Department management and leadership Permit center coordination and customer service Policy and program development Records management and public disclosure Grant and contract administration Accounts payable, purchasing, and reporting Summary DCD decreased budgeted expenditures by approximately $1M compared to 2025 Permit revenue projections for 2026 were also slightly reduced to prepare for economic uncertainty General Fund request decreased 16.6% from last year Supports administrative functions and core programs (Fire Marshal, Long-Range Planning, Code Compliance) Ensures continued delivery of essential services and successful program outcomes Maintains compliance, efficient operations, and high-quality customer service Summary DCD at JCHBA Home Show 2024 DCD Open House 2024 DCD Staff Tie-Dye Wednesday Questions?