Friday, May 31, 2013

2013 building activity holds steady

Bellevue numbers show uptick in construction permits


By BRENNAN REGO
Express Staff Writer

Construction workers Garrett Howell, left, and Elio Torres apply a coating to the foundation of a new building project south of Ketchum on Wednesday. Photo by Roland Lane

     Building permit counts, the value of building projects and revenues from such permits appear to be holding steady compared to the last two years. Of the five government entities in the Wood River Valley, Bellevue appears to be experiencing the highest relative building activity so far this year.

     The five entities each record the data differently—some organize the information by calendar year and others by fiscal year. Some update the data quarterly and others monthly. The Idaho Mountain Express this week compiled the most currently available building-permit data in the most reasonably comparable manner possible, given that the county and cities are not lined up in how they report the information.

     Blaine County reported that it has issued 17 building permits from January through March, representing about $2,139,500 in project value. In calendar year 2012, the county approved 122 permits representing about $15,863,800 in value. In calendar year 2011, the county issued 137 permits representing about $29,671,700. The county reported revenue it earned from the permits by the fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1. Fiscal year 2012-13 revenue has reached just over $99,800 through March; fiscal 2011-12 revenue was $186,100; and fiscal 2010-11 revenue was $309,700. Revenues for the first half of fiscal 2013 appear to be at least on par with the previous fiscal year. However, revenues for both those years are down compared to the year before.


Bellevue reported that it has issued 20 building permits so far this calendar year, representing about $1,389,000 in project value.


     Bellevue, which provided its data to the newspaper the most transparently, reported that it has issued 20 building permits so far this calendar year, representing about $1,389,000 in project value and yielding some $19,300 in revenue for the city. In calendar year 2012, the city approved 16 permits, representing about $164,200 and yielding $3,810. In calendar year 2011, the city issued 15 permits, representing about $87,700 and yielding some $2,600. So far, 2013 appears that it will be a particularly building-oriented year in the city, exceeding a steady upward trend for the past two years.

     Hailey reported that it has issued 45 permits from January through April, representing about $3,183,000 in project value and yielding some $61,100 in revenue for the city. In calendar year 2012, the city approved 117 permits, representing about $4,703,000 and yielding some $67,000. In calendar year 2011, the city issued 134 permits, representing $9,180,000 in value and yielding $77,000.

     Ketchum reported that it has issued 43 permits so far in 2013, representing about $4,663,000 in value. In calendar year 2012, the city issued 98 permits representing $16,215,000. In calendar year 2011, the city issued 105 permits representing $19,437,000. Ketchum also reported revenue earned by the city by the fiscal year. Fiscal year 2012-13 has yielded $78,000 so far; fiscal 2011-13 brought in $123,000; and fiscal 2010-11 yielded about $91,000. City Administrator Gary Marks said at a City Council meeting earlier this month that building-permit revenue has increased slightly over the past few years, but has not yet bounced back to pre-recession levels. He said that trend is “concerning.”

     Sun Valley reported that it has issued 29 permits from January through April, representing about $4,487,000 in project value and yielding some $38,000 in revenue for the city. In calendar year 2012, the city approved 115 permits representing $23,688,000 and yielding about $227,000. In calendar year 2011, the city issued 120 permits representing $10,934,000 and yielding $87,000. Though 2012 showed an uptick in Sun Valley compared to 2011, this year seems to be about on par with 2011 so far.


Brennan Rego: brego@mtexpress.com




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