PORT ANGELES – Clallam County’s Board of Health takes up a proposal to add a fee to every septic system in the county.

A discussion on the idea is set for this afternoon at 1:30 in the county commissioners meeting room.

County health officials say they need the revenue to fund the state-mandated septic system inspection and tracking program.

The county has run the program on about $176,000 in state grants. But those grants are going away.

The county proposes charging $13 a year on every septic system. That could bring in about $250,000 a year and fund two and a half employees.

State health department rules require Clallam County to locate and inspect all septic systems. The county offers training to homeowners to do their own inspections, or they can hire a county-approved inspection service. Traditional systems must be inspected every three years. Pressurized and other “modern” systems require yearly inspection.