Franklin BOC Tables Lowering Building Fees for Non-Profits, Churches

More research is needed by Franklin County before the County Commission votes to lower the building permit fees for non-profit groups and churches.

At their work session last month, Commissioner Eddie Wester brought up the idea.

Wester said lowering the permitting fees charged by Bureau Veritas, the third-party company that does building and construction inspections and permits for Franklin County, would help churches and non-profits, many of whom have small budgets.

Commissioners Elizabeth Busby and Robert Franklin both agreed the idea is worth researching.

But at their regular meeting last week, it was suggested the fees be lowered to $200 for non-profits.

However, County Attorney Bubba Samuels pointed out that lowering the fees for certain groups could be illegal and seen as unfair.

“My only concern is how the figure of $200 relates to the actual cost to the County. It should not be that the County is incurring that expense for one segment of the population and not the rest of the population,” Samuels said. “Assuming that the costs are captured by that $200 number then I think it’s legal and fine. But I think that we need to be able to defend the number, by saying, ‘here’s how that number relates to the cost incurred to the County. I think we have to do that. Otherwise, I fear that we could run afoul of the gratuities clause in the (State) Constitution, giving a benefit to a segment of the population and not the rest of the population. And we want to avoid that.”

Bureau Veritas, is paid by the builder, not the County, and typically charges around $6,000 for permitting fees.

Samuels added before taking any action it would have to be determined what it would cost the county and what the law requires.

After hearing from Samuels, the Wester asked the cost to the County should be figured out as soon as possible.

The Board took no action and the matter was tabled for further research.