"Just because we're small and don't have money, they think they can bully," McKeon said. "I don't trust what they say."

In other action:

County supervisors delayed revising developer fees until after they update a list of capital improvements to be paid for by the new fees.

Staff members spent 1 1/2 years crafting a proposal that would raise $1.2 billion over 22 years, 65 percent of which would help pay for major road projects. But home builders last week said they detected a "disconnect" between a justifying study and the county's wish list for capital projects.

"We do have the time," said Toby Wells of Pulte Homes, who is vice chairman of the Building Industry Association of Central California, noting a slump in construction since the recession. "Let's get it right."

Fees would go down in 12 of 18 building categories, but would increase for new houses, industrial plants, gas stations and drive-through businesses. Wells warned against "shifting the burden unfairly" from stores and "manipulating the study to get the end result you're looking for."

Jan Ennenga, executive director of the Manufacturing Council of the Central Valley, predicted that "there will no be growth in manufacturing and industrial sector if this program is passed as proposed."

The county would collect no fees if industry finds it too expensive to build, said Joe Mackil, chief executive officer for the Beard Land Investment Co. and Modesto Empire & Traction Co.

Supervisors also reluctantly agreed to explore forming a partnership with several cities in two counties, to boost energy-efficiency programs for homeowners.

Valley native Douglas White offered to set up a joint powers authority to seek stimulus grants. Bonds to conserve home energy use could be repaid through voluntary property assessments, White said. Such programs have been wildly successful in Berkeley, Sonoma County, Palm Desert and Boulder, Colo., he said.

Hughson, Newman, Oakdale, Patterson, Riverbank, Waterford, Escalon, Manteca and Ripon are interested, White said.

But Supervisor Jim DeMartini called the idea "nothing more than a jobs program for attorneys," and Supervisor Jeff Grover said, "This feels like a program that's speculative and not compelling." The board voted 4-1, with DeMartini dissenting, to continue reviewing White's pitch.

Bee staff writer Garth Stapley can be reached at gstapley@modbee.com or 578-2390.

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