Higher public-health permit fees for farmers’ markets, others? County postpones discussion, continues comment period

(WSB photo from last Sunday’s WS Farmers’ Market, by Katie Meyer)
The Seattle-King County Public Health Board has just postponed its planned discussion of proposed permit-fee increases, to take comments for at least two more months. We heard about the controversy over some of the fee increases, thanks to a reader who pointed us to protests from regional farmers-market vendors like organic-meat producer Skagit River Ranch, which called the proposed increases “outrageous” in an open letter posted via Facebook. Businesses quoted anonymously in a county roundup of “stakeholder” feedback had comments including, “It is discouraging for vendors to get higher permit fees for selling healthier food – unhealthy food should pay more.” The county says it hasn’t reviewed fees/rates since 2008 but needs to raise rates to cover costs. Other types of businesses with proposed public-health fee increases include animal shelters and some other pet-related businesses. Whatever your thoughts about the fee changes – which are less dramatic in some categories – the county says it’s taken them off the agenda for next week’s board meeting and will take comments until mid-December (this page explains how to have a say).

flimflam October 11, 2014 (2:10 am)

ugh. there is simply no way to satisfy the cities’ appetite for money. levy, property tax, sales tax, gas tax, fees to sell your produce, etc.

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“The county says it hasn’t reviewed fees/rates since 2008 but needs to raise rates to cover costs” – costs of what?

WSB October 11, 2014 (3:05 am)

Of providing the services that are part of the permits – inspections were mentioned most often.

Civik October 11, 2014 (8:08 am)

This looks more like they are trying to kill off farmers markets. After 6 years changing nothing, it is highly suspicious that they are suddenly doubling fees.

NW October 11, 2014 (9:36 am)

With the prices more geared toward people with higher incomes I really could care less

lookingforlogic October 11, 2014 (11:43 am)

Farmers Markets have proven that people are willing to travel and pay for handcrafted and passionately cultivated food.
It’s easier to take revenue from small venues than to tax large corporations and when you do pass taxes they take the revenue offshore. Between higher operating costs, high pension outlays, more government departments (homeland security, TSA) and services, aging infrastructure, more power and water requirements, etc…….. They desperately need more revenue and it much easier to take it from small guys, much less efficient and considerably more expensive, but at least they have the muscle, try getting more money from Monsanto.

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