Study: Antioch Taxpayers Subsidizing 'Personal' Services
Antioch taxpayers are on the hook for millions of dollars in building permits, impounded vehicle fees, code enforcement inspections and other services they have nothing to do with.
That's according to a recent cost of services study that found the city could raise $700,000 by shifting the cost burden of many services back on the people and entities responsible for them.
The firm, Revenue & Cost Specialists, conducted a "detailed analysis" of the city's operations to determine whether Antioch's current fee structure deserves updating.
The study shows taxpayers subsidize $4,920,832 in "personal choice" services, including building permits, planning commission and city council appeals, lot mergers, code enforcement inspections and dozens of other services offered only to specific individuals.
For example, the city charges contractors and developers a $3,900 fee to conduct a building plan review, but the actual cost to the city for this service is $8,564. That means taxpayers bear most of the cost, according to the study.
Taxpayers subsidize dozens of other fees and services, including zoning applications, concealed weapons permits, processing DUI arrests, new water accounts and candidate filing services.
They also subsidize more than $2 million recreational services. In its report, however, Revenue & Cost Specialists recommends that the city develop a policy for subsidizing these and similar programs that have a "social benefit."
The city council is expected to hold a study session in June to discuss the firm's recommendations.