The county Planning Department suggests permit fees be raised to 70 percent of the cost to process from its current 19 percent over the next five years (The Maui News, Aug. 27). It is doubtful that a threefold increase will slow down development, but it might.
For example, a special management area assessment (SMSA) fee for a subdivision of more than five lots currently costs $2,475 when the actual cost is $8,353. County special use permit fee is currently $550 and should be $7,480.
Why should permit processing fees be subsidized by the rest of us? I cannot speak to the efficiency (or inefficiency) of the process, but in my view those who use the county's permitting services should pay for it with the fee structure covering 100 percent of the cost and it should become effective Jan. 1, 2013.
David L. Florence
Haiku
