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Finance committee recommends 2.8% citywide fee increase to council
Summary
The Salinas Finance Committee voted to recommend that city council approve a 2.8% increase to the citywide schedule of fees and service charges for fiscal year 2526 after staff outreach and discussion about cost recovery and next steps.
The Salinas Finance Committee voted to recommend that city council approve a 2.8% increase to the citywide schedule of fees and service charges for fiscal year 2526.
Acting assistant finance director A. Pedroza told the committee, "At this time, staff recommends that the finance committee provide input and direction on the proposed city wide schedule of fees and service charges for FY 2526." The committee voted in favor: Council member D'Arrigo, Council member De La Rosa and Mayor Donahue recorded aye votes.
Staff said the 2.8% figure matches the consumer price index (CPI) staff used as its recommendation for the year. Pedroza said outreach was conducted with the Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce, Suba and the nonprofit Alliance of Monterey County and that staff "did not receive any notice of objection or issue in regards to the proposed fee schedule for next year." Staff also projected in the staff report that the CPI-driven increases would produce about $125,000 in additional revenue.
The staff summary presented to the committee said the proposal would add 12 new fees, leave 52 fees unchanged because they are mandated, keep 74 fees unchanged under the Monterey County animal services agreement, and leave 70 recently increased airport fees unchanged per department process. Excluding those categories, staff said 96% of fees were recommended to increase by the CPI; the remaining 4% were increased by other metrics, left unchanged, or decreased at department discretion.
Committee members asked for clarification that the CPI adjustment does not replace a full cost-of-service study and were told staff plans a follow-up cost study next fiscal year to better align fees with actual service costs. Staff said the full estimate of aggregate contributions from fee increases to the general fund was not available at the meeting but that they would provide that figure to the committee.
Staff said the item will be presented to the city council on April 22 for final action.
