In 2017, Steele County reported that they brought in $34,675 in permit fees. Their "expenses" listed included "Office furniture" at $3,247,68, "Office machines" at $6,045, with their total "expenses" being $13,013.68, leaving a surplus of $21,661.32. Divided up by the 369 new and renewed permits, thats an apparent overcharging of about $65.84 per person (blended across both new and renewal permits)
The 2018 report is a little less clear due to how the report truncated the county names near the end of the report. If I counted the number of entries correctly Steele County reported $40,025.00 in revenue and reported a total of $7,711.25 expenses (though no new office furniture this year, bummer) still leaving a surplus of $32,313.75. That's about $72.29 overcharged across the 447 new and renewal permits (again blended).
So by that reasoning can we say that Steele County's "reasonable and direct cost" per permit processed is about $27.11? Maybe that's how they arrived at the $25 cost?
Either way...something to consider I guess.
By the way if you're ever feeling great and want a little nausea to bring you back around check out the permit statistics reports if you've never read them. There are very few departments that seem to follow either the letter or the spirit of the statute which is a shame.
Sources:
https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-di ... Report.pdfhttps://dps.mn.gov/divisions/bca/bca-di ... Report.pdf