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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
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Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Health Department
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DATE:
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April 11, 2008
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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April 22, 2008
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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Majority
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Charlene A. Silva, Director, Health Department
Brian J. Zamora, Director, Public Health & Environmental Protection Division
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SUBJECT:
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Public Health Fees
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a Resolution establishing Public Health fees effective April 15, 2008, allowing a fee increase for copies of birth and death certificates.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.
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Goal 5: Residents have access to healthcare and preventive care.
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These fee increases contribute to this commitment and this goal by ensuring that vital Public Health services are provided at an appropriate fee to recover costs associated with the service provided.
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Performance Measures:
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Measure
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FY 2006-07
Actual
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FY 2007-08
Projected
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Office of Vital Statistics timeliness – Births registered within 10 days of delivery.
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83.7%
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80%
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BACKGROUND:
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California Health and Safety Code §103625 requires the Office of Vital Statistics to collect a fee for copies of records equal to the fees collected by the California Department of Health Services: $17.00 for birth and $12.00 for death. The State sets the base rate and allocates portions of the base rate for different Statewide trust funds. In addition, the Health and Safety Codes §100425 and §100430 authorize each county to charge a fee for all costs incurred by the county or the county’s designee for the service provided.
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DISCUSSION:
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The operating costs of the Vital Statistics program have increased and in order to cover the costs of the service it is necessary to increase the fees for copies of birth and death certificates by $2.00. Program requirements for FY 2007-08 total $328,241, including $243,666 in labor costs. Total revenue in FY 2006-07 was $260,842.
Below is a table comparing the FY 2007-08 proposed fees to current fees of other local jurisdictions:
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County
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Birth Certificates
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Death Certificates
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San Mateo (proposed)
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$19.00
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$14.00
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San Francisco
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$14.00
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$12.00
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Santa Clara
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$17.00
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$12.00
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Alameda
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$19.00
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$14.00
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Contra Costa
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$20.00
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$15.00
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Current average
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$17.40
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$13.00
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The proposed fee increase is slightly above average area fees. Even with the anticipated increases in revenues, the cost of providing these services will still exceed revenues derived from them. We have communicated with our clients about the proposed fee increase.
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FISCAL IMPACT
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The proposed change to the Public Health Fee Schedule is expected to generate new revenue of approximately $8,000 in the Office of Vital Statistics for the remainder of FY 2007-08. This increase was anticipated and included in the Public Health FY 2007-08 Adopted Budget, and the Net County Cost for the Office of Vital Statistics is $59,040. For FY 2008-09, revenue is projected to increase by approximately $50,000. The fee change is intended to cover the increased costs of doing business, and it is estimated that Net County Cost for FY 2008-09 Recommended Budget will be $47,310.
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