I guess Sheriff Swope has figured out ho to turn a profit off of this. No application fee, but a user's fee. Brilliant. I think once the other sheriffs figure out that this is a license to print $100 bills they'll jump on board. Can't wait to see how the Post editorializes against this.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...nty+sheriff+says+he+has+way+to+cover+permit+c
St. Charles County sheriff says he has way to cover permit costs
By Tim Bryant
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/13/2004
The St. Charles County sheriff plans to collect $100 from each applicant for a permit to carry a concealed weapon and hopes referring to the payments as user fees will avert the need to seek public money to implement the law.
In what would be a distinction without a difference to applicants, calling the $100 payment a user fee instead of an application fee would let the county use the money to cover all its costs of implementing the law, Sheriff Tim Swope said Friday.
The law requires sheriffs to use the $100 application fee for training and equipment only. Swope said calling the payment a user fee would also let him use the money to pay clerks needed to handle applications, cover the cost of an applicant's fingerprint check and meet other related expenses.
"As a county, we can charge a user fee for our costs," Swope said.
Under an "extremely tentative" plan, St. Charles County will begin accepting applications March 20, Swope said. Initially, people desiring concealed carry permits could file applications during the day Saturdays and evenings Monday through Thursday.
Referring to the $100 payment as a user fee appeared Friday to be unique among sheriffs in Missouri. Swope said the St. Charles County arrangement needs a county ordinance to become effective.
Money collected would be used to pay clerks overtime, the sheriff said.
"We're not taking resources from the street or anywhere else," he said.
Calculations show that the $100 user fee "give or take a few dollars" should cover all of the county's expenses in processing applications, Swope said.
He said the plan was worked out this week in discussions with County Executive Joe Ortwerth, County Counselor Joann Leykam and County Council Chairman Doug Funderburk.
The sheriff said he hopes each application can be taken in 30 minutes to an hour. He said he expects a rush of applications, at least initially.
"We want everyone to be patient," Swope said.
Reporter Tim Bryant
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 636-255-7212
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...nty+sheriff+says+he+has+way+to+cover+permit+c
St. Charles County sheriff says he has way to cover permit costs
By Tim Bryant
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/13/2004
The St. Charles County sheriff plans to collect $100 from each applicant for a permit to carry a concealed weapon and hopes referring to the payments as user fees will avert the need to seek public money to implement the law.
In what would be a distinction without a difference to applicants, calling the $100 payment a user fee instead of an application fee would let the county use the money to cover all its costs of implementing the law, Sheriff Tim Swope said Friday.
The law requires sheriffs to use the $100 application fee for training and equipment only. Swope said calling the payment a user fee would also let him use the money to pay clerks needed to handle applications, cover the cost of an applicant's fingerprint check and meet other related expenses.
"As a county, we can charge a user fee for our costs," Swope said.
Under an "extremely tentative" plan, St. Charles County will begin accepting applications March 20, Swope said. Initially, people desiring concealed carry permits could file applications during the day Saturdays and evenings Monday through Thursday.
Referring to the $100 payment as a user fee appeared Friday to be unique among sheriffs in Missouri. Swope said the St. Charles County arrangement needs a county ordinance to become effective.
Money collected would be used to pay clerks overtime, the sheriff said.
"We're not taking resources from the street or anywhere else," he said.
Calculations show that the $100 user fee "give or take a few dollars" should cover all of the county's expenses in processing applications, Swope said.
He said the plan was worked out this week in discussions with County Executive Joe Ortwerth, County Counselor Joann Leykam and County Council Chairman Doug Funderburk.
The sheriff said he hopes each application can be taken in 30 minutes to an hour. He said he expects a rush of applications, at least initially.
"We want everyone to be patient," Swope said.
Reporter Tim Bryant
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 636-255-7212
