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the municipal secretary desktop reference manual - Southwestern ...

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NOTES<br />

A FEE CHECKLIST<br />

QUESTIONS AND ISSUES TO BE CONSIDERED<br />

The following is a list of some of <strong>the</strong> questions and issues for <strong>municipal</strong> officials to use in<br />

evaluating user fee opportunities.<br />

Is <strong>the</strong> purpose of <strong>the</strong> fee to produce income,<br />

regulate demand or affect o<strong>the</strong>r citizen<br />

attitudes and behaviors?<br />

Will <strong>the</strong> fee recover full, more than full, or<br />

partial costs of <strong>the</strong> service?<br />

Does <strong>the</strong> <strong>municipal</strong> accounting system provide<br />

adequate cost-of-service information? Does it<br />

consider indirect as well as direct costs? Does<br />

it include direct as well as indirect cost data?<br />

Will <strong>the</strong> user fee be collected by prepaid,<br />

billing or on-site collection arrangements? Is<br />

<strong>the</strong> fee collection process well-defined?<br />

What groups or classes of citizens benefit<br />

from various <strong>municipal</strong> services?<br />

Will adoption of <strong>the</strong> fee preclude low-income<br />

groups from using <strong>the</strong> service? If so, what<br />

special arrangements or discounts can be<br />

made?<br />

How will citizens affected by <strong>the</strong> fee react?<br />

Will any negative consequences spill over into<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r areas?<br />

What state statutes affect <strong>the</strong> ability to raise<br />

fees?<br />

Does <strong>the</strong> organization have <strong>the</strong> resources to<br />

conduct an in-house cost study?<br />

VIII-29

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