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Washington Unified board adopts developer fee study, sets new statutory rates
Summary
The board approved a developer fee justification study and authorized raising the district's statutory level 1 residential fee to $5.38 per square foot and the commercial/industrial fee to $0.87, effective Sept. 21, 2026; the consultant said the study justifies the increase based on local enrollment and housing projections.
The Washington Unified School District board voted July 23 to adopt a developer fee justification study and authorize new statutory level 1 developer fees, with the increases scheduled to take effect Sept. 21, 2026.
Consultant testimony to the board said the district is justified in collecting the maximum residential fee of $5.38 per square foot and a commercial/industrial fee of $0.87 per square foot. The consultant reported a local student-yield rate of 0.39 students per housing unit (based on 2020 census data) and a five-year projection of about 1,200 new housing units. He said, under the study's assumptions, the district could expect roughly $1.7 million per year in fee revenue.
"You are fully justified to collect the new maximum rate of $5.38 per square foot," the consultant told trustees during the public hearing.
Board members asked about timing and capacity. The consultant said a new elementary school in the southern district might eventually be needed but that the industry-average timeline to plan, design and construct a comprehensive K–8 campus is about five years. He also noted the study identifies planned uses for fee revenue—land acquisition, new school construction, modernization, portables and planning costs—but emphasized that identified uses do not bind the district to a single project.
Trustees voted on the resolution (listed in the agenda as "resolution number 26 27 32") by roll call; the motion passed unanimously. The supporting materials presented at the hearing showed an alternative, district-specific justification figure of $11.72 per square foot (not to exceed the state cap) that districts commonly use for internal analysis; trustees adopted the statutory-level rate permitted under state law.
The board will publish the study and the resolution and the new fee schedule prior to the Sept. 21 effective date so developers and the public can plan accordingly.
