Fire inspection fees for day-care centers rose by 315 percent in 2008 and in-home family child-care center owners have struggled to get their fees reduced.

All updated fees went into effect Feb. 1, 2008 and since Dec. 2008 in-home family day-care centers in Orange have asked the city to adjust the rate as the work needed for the inspections has not changed.

“It is a pretty big burden and it’s kind of unheard of to raise someone’s rate 315 percent. It’s not fair,” said Kathleen Patrick, a family child-care center owner for three years in Orange.

City officials have said they will be adjusting those fees soon.

The Master Schedule of Fees and Charges lists all fees which are paid to the city’s Public Works Department for various services, including construction permits, water rates and fire inspections. Notification of fee adjustments are put on the council agenda before they are raised.

Fee rates are adjusted up or down according to how much the service costs the city which is primarily based on paying the employee who performs the service, said Finance Director Rich Jacobs.

“We can’t charge a fee greater than what it actually costs us to deliver the service. They did an analysis and the fees here hadn’t been raised in numerous years. A lot of fees were adjusted upward, some were adjusted downward,” Fire Chief Bart Lewis said.

Yearly fire inspection rates went up from $53 to $220 for day-care providers for the inspection of smoke alarms, exits, and condition of bells and fire extinguishers.

“Our methodology for doing that inspection wasn’t quite right,” Jacobs said. The fee schedule will be adjusted in 2010.

The family centers are being included in a category of larger day-care facilities that require a fire truck and crew for inspection, Patrick said.

“Neither the fire chief or myself have the authority to waive or reduce fees. The resolution to the existing fee would be to go to council and request the fee be retroactively reduced or adjusted,” Jacobs said.

Legally the child-care centers must pay the fees but will continue to send letters and attend council meetings to see the matter resolved, Patrick said.

“As far as our inspections go, it’s not very reasonable. Look at our capacity and raise it accordingly,” Patrick said.

– KerriAnne Rivas

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