ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Note for 'Jersey Guys'

LK,

it's not due to budget problems, it's because it's an incredible revenue source for the towns. When the permit fees were first instituted, they were we supposed to be enough just to cover the costs of performing the inspections. But then, the towns realized that they could put the money in the general fund. It's essentially another tax. One town around here charges $71/100A service, $115/150A service and around$145/200A service. Tell me what the differnce in the inspection is? Why is there a difference in the inspection fees? Because they can.

Sorry to sound angry, but I am. Taxes are going through the roof everywhere. All of us in NJ feel it (from property taxes to auto insurance) Now they want to raise our sales tax to 7%.

I don't know about you, but we do electrical contracting, we don't print money. So every time a tax is raised, or a fee is raised, I have to get that money from somewhere. Typically it's our customers.

When does it end?

I understand your concerns, but the state is cutting the amount they give the towns, for those services, in my town it costs them an additional 20% to 30% to run the construction department, they loose money, not make it, and now, with the cuts, it may be more, so they will have to, pass on the expenses, in the form of fee increases, and yes it goes in the general fund, and the operating expenses for construction department also comes out of the general fund.

I check now before quoting permit fees, and yes i was shocked, to find a servive upgrade permit, that was $52, is now $100.


[This message has been edited by LK (edited 04-09-2006).]

I imagine George can plug in real numbers but I doubt the municipality is making a dime on the permits ... if they are doing their job. Just pushing the paper through could easily be $100.
The state figured out it was cheaper to pay the county than it was to compete with them with in house permits.

Sorry I didn't get back sooner, I lost this post and couldn't find it. I took my course with Suzanne in Parsippany. You have to look in the books that Rutgers sends us for our AHJ, CEU's.

John, I let my EC lic. go on the inactive list cause, I don't have time for contracting nor want to pay for the bond and ins. when I wouldn't use it.