Pleasanton Unified board adopts higher developer fees to fund future classrooms

Pleasanton — The Pleasanton Unified School District board adopted a School Facility Fee Justification report and a resolution on Aug. 8 to increase state Level 1 developer fees, a move staff said will help fund future classroom space as the city implements housing plans.

District staff explained the increase follows a two-year state update of maximum allowable fees under Education Code 17620 and Government Code 65995. The staff presentation said the state raised the Level 1 residential rate to $5.17 per square foot and commercial to $0.84 per square foot; to take advantage of the higher cap the district must adopt a local justification report and resolution. After public comment and trustees’ questions, the board approved the change by a 6–0 vote.

Trustee Justin Brown pressed staff for revenue projections; staff provided a back‑of‑the‑envelope estimate that if the city ultimately builds a portion of its planned housing (the city’s housing plan cited up to 6,000 units) — for example, 2,000 units averaging roughly 1,750 square feet — the increased fee could yield on the order of $20 million over time to help pay for classroom space and expansions. Staff cautioned that the state formula is a level‑1 contribution and does not fully cover construction costs.

Staff also explained how capacity is calculated for the justification: portable classrooms and sub‑standard classroom footprints are discounted in the state calculation, which can make a district appear to lack capacity even when headcount fits current rooms. Trustees asked that the district provide ongoing updates on developer fee collections and projections.

The fee change takes effect 60 days after the board’s action. Staff said the district will deposit the collected fees into a restricted facility fund that can be used for future classrooms and campus expansions tied to new development.