I am writing to state my opposition to the proposed fee increases. Every contractor and supplier in the building industry has been dramatically impacted by the downturn in the economy. The statistics for unemployment do not include the tens of thousands of self-employed contractors and sub-contractors that have not had work to perform. Many of these contractors and sub-contractors have been surviving on very little, struggling to make ends meet, and even closing their businesses.   They have no resource for help except “HOPE”. 

• They “HOPE” the American Dream of Owning a Home will help turn this economy around and get them back to work.
• They “HOPE” the government will make regulatory decisions that will be part of a solution to the issues versus adding to the business struggles that they are currently facing. 
• They “HOPE” that the economy recovers soon so they do not lose everything they have worked so hard for over so many years. There are several multi-generation contractors that are struggling not because of ability or reputation, but because of the current economic state.