San Rafael updates fees, adopts FY2025–26 budget and CIP; council asks staff to review massage‑permit inspections

The San Rafael City Council on Monday approved a package of financial and administrative items: updates to the city’s master fee schedule, adoption of the fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget and capital improvement program (CIP), the Gann appropriations limit and the Measure A work plan. All votes were 5-0.

The master fee schedule updates include targeted increases above the February-to‑February CPI (2.7%) where staff recommended raising fees to maintain or move toward target cost‑recovery levels. Notable changes include a move toward full cost recovery for ambulance transport charges, restructuring of mechanical/electrical/plumbing permit schedules, modest increases to recreation program fees and a proposed standardization of childcare and summer‑camp tuition and scheduling.

Nut graf: The council adopted the budget package as staff recommended and directed follow-up work: staff will publish a three‑year capital plan, implement new fee rates (many effective July 1, with some recreation and child‑care adjustments on…