DEQ:
How does one really argue the point that this increase of Permit Fees is out of line? You do know that many businesses, such as ours seem to be constantly paying more and more fees without having an increase of the level of service.
How much more can you guys reach into our pockets and keep pulling out more in fees? Why is it that you and other State funded programs seem to think that the business community has a abundance of funds to keep the State programs such as yours funded? You raise my fees and I raise my customers fees and the customers can only be squeezed so much before they start pushing back.
When is this madness going to stop?
Who has approved these proposed fee increases? I am sure that our States Reps probably aren’t aware of this. How much excess have you guys trimmed. I know that we have had to cut staff positions, pay increases, benefits, service, fuel, and more just to keep our business in the black.
I know this increase must not seem like much to you but a 10% percent increase is a lot to our industry as I am sure it is to many others. Is this 10% increase just making up for the 10% Budget Reduction Options?
I know that SB 5521 and HB 5054 further reduced your budget. I did not do the math for the total increase in fees, but $3.00 here and $3,000.00 there, one can, in no time make up the difference.
I have read the Fact sheet for the 2009 to 2011 DEQ budget and I am sure that there are other areas to cut without having to increase our fees. If you are truly cutting costs, then you would not need to increase fees as you guys have proposed.
You state that there is a comment period but it seems that as in the past you guys turn a deaf ear and award yourself the increases anyway. So, again I ask, where does the madness stop?
I am truly concrended about our State and it’s future, since there seems to be no end to this type of thinking. Oregon will make a nice additon to Federal Park System, and then none of us will have to worry about pay this outragueous fees.
Brad Johnson
Umpqua Basin Water Assn.
4972 Garden Valley Rd.
Roseburg, OR 97471
P-541-672-5559
F-541-672-4909
C-541-530-2405
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