Consultant outlines proposed developer fee increase tied to $500M facilities plan; board schedules May action

A consultant told the Escondido Union High School District board on April 21 that a nexus study supports raising level‑1 developer impact fees to help fund projects identified in the district's 2025 facilities master plan.

"In total, those projects, had a cost upwards of $500,000,000," said Steven Gold of Key Analytics, summarizing the master plan. Gold said the district also carries roughly $50 million in prior capital obligations. The consultant reported the study calculates an impact of $3.92 per square foot from new residential development and proposed that, given historic under‑indexing, the district establish a local residential fee of $2.75 per square foot in the Escondido Union portion and $1.79 in San Pasqual territory.

Using recent permits the firm estimated the average new unit built in the district is about 1,800 square feet; under the proposed rates, a single new unit would see school fees in the neighborhood of the amounts cited during the presentation (the consultant showed illustrative totals and compared school fees to the wider stack of permit and infrastructure exactions). The consultant noted that school developer fees are one component of many local permits and that average permit‑related exactions across San Diego County can exceed tens of thousands of dollars per unit.

Trustees questioned how fee increases affect housing affordability and whether developers absorb or pass costs to buyers; the consultant said fees are typically paid at building time by developers and are reflected in the delivered cost. Staff said the item will return for action at the May 12 meeting if the board chooses to adopt the updated nexus and fee schedule; any new fee would go into effect 60 days after board approval (roughly July 12 if approved May 12).