Moraga updates master fee schedule for FY2025–26 and FY2026–27; adds technology fee

At a public hearing on June 11, the Town of Moraga adopted a resolution updating its Master Fee Schedule for fiscal years 2025–26 and 2026–27.

Katie Bruner, the town's administrative services director, presented the proposal and said the Government Code authorizes local fees to offset the cost of processing permits, licenses and entitlements and that development-impact fees are adjusted annually based on regional construction-cost indices. Proposed changes included higher hourly staff rates for planning and public-works services, new fees for urban housing development and urban lot splits tied to state statutory changes, and a new technology fee applied to planning and public-works permits to recover technology and software costs. Parks and recreation changes included removing a refundable damage deposit for routine park rentals while retaining case-by-case deposits for groups larger than 100 people.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about the refundable deposit removal, how hourly rates were calculated, how recreation fees are set, and the purpose of the technology fee. Staff explained that larger events would still be eligible for refundable deposits on a case-by-case basis; hourly rates are fully loaded (staff cost plus administrative overhead); recreation fees are set in the seasonal recreation guide because many classes are run by contracted providers; and the technology fee is intended to offset software and equipment used in permitting and review. The La Mirinda financing authority (LFFA) traffic/impact fee adjustments were described as modest decreases driven by regional cost-index changes.

A councilmember moved to adopt the resolution updating the Master Fee Schedule; the motion was seconded and adopted unanimously.