Supervisors approve increase in fire mitigation fees

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 March 21 to approve an increase in fire mitigation fees paid by developers to fund the cost of fire department facilities serving the new development.

The fee for non-agricultural construction is raised from 42 cents per square foot of building floor area to 46 cents per square foot. The 8.32 percent increase rounded to the nearest cent equates to an additional $80 for a 2,000 square foot structure, for which the amount would be raised from $840 to $920.

The new fees will take effect at the July 1 beginning of the 2007-08 fiscal year. A first...