Fees could increase 6% for permits for food service establishments, pools and camps in Kitsap County.

The Kitsap Public Health District will have a public hearing Nov. 7 to consider the environmental health fee changes. Fees for other permits would not change.

The public can comment in person at the meeting that starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Norm Dicks Government Center, 345 6th St. in Bremerton. People can mail comments to Kitsap Public Health Board, Att.: Executive Secretary, at that same address, WA 98337. It can also comment via phone or Zoom.

Permit fees cover the cost of providing services for food establishments, public pools, drinking water wells, septic systems, solid and hazardous waste facilities, and other activities regulated by the district. The health board’s goal is for permit fees to recover the costs of providing the service.

If the fee increase is approved for 2024, permit fees for food establishments would increase from $30 to $50. KPHD did not increase food permit fees in 2021-22 to help reduce the financial burden during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fees were increased 6% this year. Even with the increase, KPHD says the fees still would not over the full cost of administering services.

Examples of other potential fee increases: Camps would go from $470 to $500; pool pre-op inspections from $240 to $480; and most restaurant-type fees would go up around $20.