The board of county commissioners does hereby determine that a need exists for the creation of a Porter County building, planning and zoning fund whereby all revenues generated by fees and all proceeds from the acceptance of gifts, donations and grants shall be deposited in the separate fund.

     The following monies received by the building department and plan commission shall be deposited in this building, planning and zoning fund: (a) application fees received by the building department and plan commission for improvement location permits and electrical upgrade permits; (b) application fees for petitions to the plan commission, board of zoning appeals and technical advisory committee; (c) those donations received from any private or governmental source, which are particularly specified to be deposited in this building, planning and zoning fund or to be used for the specific purposes of the fund; (d) those fees generated from building department and plan commission operations which the board of county commissioners approves for inclusion within the building, planning and zoning fund.

     The Porter County auditor′s office shall establish the building, planning and zoning fund pursuant to the provisions of this chapter and any balances in the building, planning and zoning fund at the end of any given calendar year shall be carried forward.

     All monies received by the building department and plan commission pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited weekly with the Porter County auditor′s office and the Porter County auditor shall credit such deposits to this building, planning and zoning fund. (Ord. 03-13 § 2 )

    The revenues generated and deposited in the special nonreverting building, planning and zoning fund shall be utilized specifically and exclusively for expenditures related to the operation of the building department and plan commission. The building, planning and zoning fund is intended to supplement the costs associated with the operation of the building department and plan commission. Expenditures from the building, planning and zoning fund shall be approved by the Porter County board of commissioners. The expenditures to include but not be limited to: (a) the compensation of employees of the plan commission and building department; (b) members of the plan commission and board of zoning appeals; (c) to retain counsel for the plan commission and the board of zoning appeals; (d) for the operational costs of the building department and plan commission; (e) and other expenses designated by the board of county commissioners. The employees compensated shall include but not limited to executive director, building commissioner, building inspectors, building secretary, zoning inspector/assistant planner, administrative assistant, first deputy, second deputy and other positions and/or employees the board of county commissioners deem necessary for the operation of the building department and for which the plan commission board deems necessary for the operation of the plan commission.

     Any funds contained in the building, planning and zoning fund shall be appropriated only upon recommendation from the board of county commissioners and after the Porter County council approves the appropriation pursuant to the rules for budget appropriations. The funds shall be appropriated only for the specific purposes set forth in this chapter.

     If the balance of the building, planning and zoning fund is insufficient the Porter County council will be requested to provide additional monies from the general fund to continue operation of the building department and plan commission.

     Expenditures from the building, planning and zoning fund for the purposes stated herein shall commence effective January 1, 2004. (Ord. 03-13 § 3 )

    The Porter County building, planning and zoning fund shall remain in existence and remain perpetual in its terms until amended or terminated by subsequent ordinance enacted by the board of county commissioners of Porter County; and if and when a subsequent ordinance is passed to terminate the life of the Porter County building, planning and zoning fund, the fund balance existing and if not otherwise provided for by ordinance, if any at that time, shall be transferred to the county general fund. (Ord. 03-13 § 4 )