I just wanted to post a positive about the turnaround time between application and permit received in Rice Co. My wife and I turned in our paperwork on either Friday or Monday (June 6 or 9), I can't remember. We received them in the mail on Friday the 13th.

The woman behind the thick glass was friendly and accommodating. She even gave our kids stickers. A good time was had by all. Nice job, Rice Co.

Very cool. Now if they'd only stop grossly overcharging and cooking the books.

Here is the Rice County sheriff's Office report on permit fees. Find it on page 207 of the state report, here: http://www.dps.state.mn.us/bca/CJIS/Doc ... Report.pdf



WOW! They spent, TO THE PENNY, exactly what they brought in. TO THE PENNY! They are some precise workers.

What do the expenses mean, anyway?

I understand materials and supplies -- the cards and laminating plastic and toner. I understand labor. So what is "Processing-background check"? It's not labor. It's not materials.

What is it?

Could it be that the "actual cost" mandated by law was actually $52.97, and the rest is, well, a LIE?

I'm talking "out of school" here, but according to my permit class instructor, the agreed-upon fee was essentially a bribe.

Obviously, the actual cost for a place like Rice Co. would be negligible... hardly worth trying to track. The workers are already there (with plenty of time on their hands), a roll of laminating tape every four years, .03% increase in copier machine use, the county must have a bulk postage rate already.

Oh well, progress not perfection, right?