In continuation of a program launched in 2014, on June 12, 2017 the City Commission approved a transfer of $125,000 in building permit fee proceeds to the City's Energy Efficiency Rebate Program (EERP). The current balance in the EERP account is $15,000 and interest in the program remains strong. Accordingly, staff is again requesting a transfer from the building permit account, this time in the amount of $100,000, to extend the life of the program.
With pay-outs to date totaling $411,618 the City’s rebate program for energy efficient windows, doors, A/C units, hot water heaters, etc., has enjoyed significant and measurable success. Thus far over 1086 rebates have been issued directly to 863 homeowners. As in the past, the rebate funding will be derived exclusively from building permit fees and not the general fund. The building permit (BP) fund’s current balance is $1,140,690. Approving an additional $100,000 for energy rebates is in keeping with the Commission’s practice of maintaining a BP fund balance of around a million dollars.
Note: The BP fund is also used in support of the City's partnership with the not-for-profit Solar Energy Loan Fund (SELF) organization which conducts energy audits and makes construction loans for energy efficient improvements. City funding for SELF has ranged between $25-30K a year over the past two years and has been a recurring line item in the Development Department budget. Other uses of the BP fund include contractor education initiatives and bridge funding for the demolition of derelict structures.