Board approves modest user-fee increases for permits and certified-mail cost recovery
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Summary
The board approved adjustments to several small user fees beginning FY2026, including increases to residential and commercial water-permit application fees and late fees, and added a $30 certified-mail fee for past-due notices to recover mailing costs.
Chief Financial Officer Michelle Gerois presented a cost-and-efficiency review of a subset of the authority—s user fees and recommended several adjustments to better align fees with staff time and actual costs. The board approved changes to take effect in fiscal year 2026.
Approved changes include raising the residential water permit application fee from $25 to $50, the commercial water permit application fee from $25 to $100, and increasing residential and commercial late fees from $25 to $50 per permit holder. The board also authorized a new certified-mail fee of $30 to recover postage and handling for certified notices for past-due accounts. Gerois said the fee package is expected to generate roughly $78,000 a year and represents a small revenue source not included in the FY2026 budget.
Gerois said staff analyzed the average staff time and other expenses required to deliver services, applied fully burdened wage rates, and considered process efficiencies identified by the special projects and strategic initiatives department. She noted that the authority reviews user fees at least once every five years.
The motion to adopt the fee changes passed on a roll call vote; Director Taylor recorded an abstention, the remainder voted yes (motion by Director Wayne; second by Director Ruiz).
