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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Yuba County Grand Jury
• 2011-2012
Unauthorized Changes in Building Permit Fees
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 10 findings
F1
Page 17
Pursuant to Yuba County Policy and Procedures Manual, the Board of Supervisors is the only County entity that is authorized to establish, change and waive fees for County- provided services.
F2
Page 17
“Half fee” waivers were given to residential construction projects, where the work was performed by the owners themselves, between 2005 and 2008, without authority from the Board of Supervisors.
F3
Page 17
“Half fee” waivers were given to a commercial home developer group in October 2006.
F4
Page 17
“Half fee” waivers were given to a commercial construction project in May 2008, which was and is owned by a former Yuba County Supervisor.
F5
Page 17
A similar commercial construction project to that of the former Supervisor did not receive the “half fee” waiver in May 2008, but rather paid full price.
F6
Page 17
The Chief Building Official did not and does not have the authority to establish, change and waive permit fees.
F7
Page 17
The Chief Building Official appears to have exhibited favoritism by providing the “half fee” waiver to residential construction projects, where the work was performed by the owners themselves.
F8
Page 17
The Chief Building Official appears to have exhibited favoritism by granting the “half fee” waiver to one commercial home developer group.
F9
Page 17
The Chief Building Official appears to have exhibited favoritism by granting the “half fee” waiver to a former Supervisor for his commercial construction project, while not granting the “half fee” waiver to a similar commercial construction project taking place during the same timeframe.
F10
Page 17
The Chief Building Official stated he was instructed by the Board of Supervisors to provide the “half fee” waiver, but the Supervisors who were interviewed had no knowledge of such a waiver.
Recommendations 4
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R1Page 17Increased oversight should be implemented to ensure that only fees authorized by the Board of Supervisors are charged.
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R2Page 17The Chief Building Official should be held accountable for failing to follow the County’s Administrative Policy & Procedures Manual, Policy B-2, regarding the establishment of fees.
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R3Page 17The Chief Building Official should be held accountable for a perceived show of favoritism when providing the “half fee” to residential construction projects where the work is 2011-2012 Yuba County Grand Jury Final Report Unauthorized Changes in Building Permit Fees performed by the owners themselves, as well as to the two commercial construction projects.
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R4Page 18The Chief Building Official should be held accountable for the loss of revenue to the Building Department.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Yuba County
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