State Water Board staff propose modest fee changes or use reserves to cover Waste Discharge Permit Fund shortfall

State Water Resources Control Board staff told stakeholders on a virtual meeting that the Waste Discharge Permit Fund (WDPF) enacted fee‑setting budget for fiscal year 2025–26 is about $197,000,000, down roughly $4,900,000 (2.5%) from the FY24–25 fee‑setting budget. Staff presented two high‑level options to address a projected gap between program budgets and forecast revenues: use a portion of the fund reserve with no fee changes, or adopt modest fee increases across several programs (roughly 2–3 percent) while drawing less from reserves.

Why this matters: the WDPF pays for permit programs that regulate discharge to state waters; small percentage changes can amount to real dollars for large permit holders, and the board must set fees consistent with the enacted budget before it begins billing.

Staff member Jackie Carter summarized the top‑line numbers, saying the FY24–25 fee‑setting budget was “about 202,000,000,” and the enacted FY25–26 fee‑setting budget is “about 197,000,000, reflecting a net difference decrease of 4,900,000.0 or 2.5%.”…