"Business" of User Fees - US Fire Administration - Federal ...

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24geographical area. The survey showed that the Colorado departments followed thenorm of fire prevention and ambulance transport fees as the most popular. Anunexpected finding was that Westminster’s fee program was fairly similar to a majorityof the departments represented in the survey. The author expected to find that thedepartment didn’t charge for as many services, but instead found Westminster onlylacking in a couple areas.Research Question 2. The literature review established four main benefits ofuser fees.• Generate Revenue• Gain Compliance• Change Behavior• EquitableBeing able to generate revenue is a prime reason that local governments elect toestablish user fees in order to provide services. Most agencies probably don’t thinkabout the other positive aspects of charging these fees. However, gaining complianceand changing behavior are user fee benefits that a fire department can use tostrengthen its fire prevention program or emergency medical system. Finally, user feesprovide a measure of fairness to the community by charging the customer for theservice they receive. While every resident does indeed pay taxes for basic services,many user fees are used to supplement the specialized services, such as ambulancetransport and hazardous material response.
25The research identified user fee concerns in the following categories:• Ethics• Legal• Political Support• Community Support• BillingHistory has answered many of the ethical and legal concerns through businesscompetition and legislation. The Supreme Court has established a three-part definitionof a user fee as:• Fee must be identified with a specific government service• Payment must be voluntary – one must request the service in order for thegovernment to impose the fee• Service must directly benefit the person paying the feeDepartments that are considering a user fee program should ensure that the fees fitthese criteria.Research showed that the best way to gain political and community support wasto maintain open and honest communication with citizens and the policymakers of theorganization. “Building public support for difficult financial decisions is a marketingchallenge” (Benest, 1998, p. 3). Being able to show the purpose of the fee, its use, andwhere the money will go are ways that can improve an agencies chance of feeacceptance and support.Billing concerns depend on which type of billing program the department elects touse. Fire departments establishing new fee programs may elect to contract the billing
Page 1 and 2: THE “BUSINESS” OF USER FEES: A
Page 3 and 4: 3The major findings of this researc
Page 5 and 6: 5INTRODUCTIONThe “business” of
Page 7 and 8: 72. What are the benefits and probl
Page 9 and 10: 9The majority of Westminster’s re
Page 11 and 12: 11sharing, lease/purchasing, subscr
Page 13 and 14: 13revenue source and as a way to ga
Page 15 and 16: 15of their revenue base through tra
Page 17 and 18: 17There are many other miscellaneou
Page 19 and 20: 19Much of the litigation involving
Page 21 and 22: 21Establishing a billing program ca
Page 23: 23were thought to be progressive or
Page 27 and 28: 27Competition for customers is pitt
Page 29 and 30: 29community, city administration, C
Page 31 and 32: 31Manion, K. (1996). Fee Based Serv
Page 33 and 34: User Fee Type (con’t):Public Educ
Page 35 and 36: WESTMINSTER FEE SURVEY B-2Colo Spri
Page 37: WESTMINSTER FEE SURVEY B-4Poudre So

"Business" of User Fees - US Fire Administration - Federal ...

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