NORWICH – A revised fee schedule for building and fire code permits is having a tough time making its way through Chenango County’s government committee system.

The schedule, created in 2005, needs to be updated in order for the public health department to receive state aid for codes enforcement. It would also help afford employees’ salaries and costs in the department.

“Obviously with state budget problems, there’s no money flowing now, but this would put us in the position to be eligible for that state aid,” said the county’s Public Health Director Marcas Flindt.

The cost of providing building and fire code enforcement has become a burden on Chenango County taxpayers, with the local share increasing 58 percent from last year. Revenues have been cut in half since 2007, mostly due to the faltering economy. The department was also forced to cut staff after the Town of Norwich last year joined the Town of Greene and a handful of other municipalities that handle their own enforcement.

The revised fee schedule would raise the permit for a 1,500 square foot, single family home from $200 to $250, and a 2,501 square foot to 3,500 square foot home from $300 to $350, for example. Permits for storage sheds larger than 280 square feet would be increased from $50 to $100.

Flindt and Chenango County Code Enforcement Officer Dick Platt described the increases as “very reasonable.”