Millbrae adopts fire assessment increase and approves sewer, stormwater resolutions for FY 2026–27

The Millbrae City Council on July 14 adopted multiple fiscal resolutions to place assessments and service charges on the San Mateo County tax roll for fiscal year 2026–27. Staff recommended and the council adopted a 2.477% CPI‑based increase to the city's fire suppression assessment and passed resolutions to place sewer service charges and stormwater fees on the county tax roll.

Finance/policy staff explained the fire assessment increase is tied to the San Francisco Bay Area CPI (February‑to‑February) and is capped at 3%. Staff said the FY 2026–27 increase will set the single‑family assessment at $209.41 annually and a multifamily per‑unit amount at $149.05. "We need the resolution so that we can give [it] to the county," staff said, noting San Mateo County requires a resolution and an APN listing by July 31 to include assessments on the tax roll.

On sewer and stormwater, staff said the sewer fixed and variable charges will increase about 6% consistent with the 2022 sewer rate study; the clean‑bay charge and the stormwater fees were proposed to remain unchanged for the coming fiscal year. Council discussed the scope of stormwater capital needs: staff cited roughly $42 million in needed improvements identified in the city’s stormwater master plan and, in later remarks, said total storm/infrastructure needs may be between $80 million and $100 million in current dollars—far exceeding the roughly $270,000 annual revenue from the stormwater fee. City staff explained that the general fund and development impact fees help cover larger projects and that capital improvements proceed based on available revenue.

With no public speakers, council closed both hearings and voted 4–0 to adopt the fire assessment resolution and the sewer/stormwater resolutions to place the charges on the county property tax roll.