CITY OF SANTA MARIA
2026 User Fee Schedule
JUNE 2, 2026
Background
• User Fees – Personal Choice Services
– Customer is identifiable and the service is
measurable
– Benefits an individual or group
– Examples: Planning, Facility Rentals
• Cost of Services (User Fee) Study 2020
• User Fee Cost Recovery Level Policy
User Fee Update
• Fee Study Update Report
– Prepared by Revenue Cost Specialists (RCS)
– Basis for the update was the Cost of Services Study
2020
– City Council applied a Consumer Price Index to the
FY 2025-26 fee schedule based on the 12-month
percent change to the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
for All Urban Consumers, Los Angeles-Long Beach-
Anaheim, CA area: 3.3%
– This Fee Study Update recommends recovering the
full cost of each fee-related service and calculates
potential revenues at full (100%) cost-recovery
– New fees will be effective August 1, 2026
User Fee Update
• Appendix A - Summary of the current City fees matched up with the proposed fees for each service presented
• Appendix B – Detailed worksheets
• Appendix C – Detail of Building & Safety Fees
• Appendix D – Detail of Library Fees
• Appendix E – Detail of Recreation & Parks Facility & Field Rental Fees
Fee Revenues
SERVICE
TOTAL
FEE
REVENUE
TOTAL
SERVICE
COST
TOTAL
PROFIT /
(SUBSIDY)
PCT.
RECOVERY
FROM FEES
POSSIBLE
NEW
REVENUE
ACTUAL SUGGEST
PLANNING $1,815,974 $2,504,233 $(688,259) 72.5% VAR. $688,500 BUILDING 4,589,137 4,298,979 290,158 106.7% VAR. 12,100 PUBLIC WORKS 1,129,846 1,596,939 (467,093) 70.8% VAR. 466,800 CODE
ENFORCEMENT
234,529 862,230 (627,701) 27.2% VAR. 203,500
FIRE 579,588 662,816 (83,228) 87.4% VAR. 11,600
POLICE 522,371 601,249 (78,878) 86.9% VAR. 65,000
SOLID WASTE 0 10,436 (10,436) 0.0% VAR. 10,500
WATER 99,273 172,427 (73,154) 57.6% VAR. 73,200
WASTEWATER 220,809 313,771 (92,962) 70.4% VAR. 92,600
FINANCE 1,108,464 1,303,120 (194,656) 85.1% VAR. 257,900 CITY CLERK 11,612 11,651 (39) 99.7% VAR. 0
CITY ATTORNEY 0 0 0 0.0% VAR. 0
SMCTV 0 367,437 (367,437) 0.0% VAR. 0
LIBRARY 68,123 393,135 (325,012) 17.3% VAR. 1,400
RECREATION 897,536 8,704,557 (7,807,021) 10.3% VAR. 0
PARKS 0 128,811 (128,811) 0.0% VAR. 128,900
SPECIAL PROJECTS 2,024 2,157 (133) 93.8% VAR. 200
$11,279,286 $21,933,948 $(10,654,662) 51.4% VAR. $2,012,200 Modifications
• Utilities User Fees will need to be brought back.
– S-191, S-192, S-198, S-222A.1 and S-222A.2
– Will be re-noticed for adoption at a later date.
Recommendations
1. Hold a public hearing regarding the addition and
update of the Citywide User Fees identified in the Fee
Study Update and 2026 User Fee Schedule.
2. Adopt a Resolution approving the addition and update of Citywide User Fees identified in the Fee Study
Update and 2026 User Fee Schedule excluding
adjustments to the following fees:
a. S-191 – Solid Waste Extra Haul
b. S-192 – Overloaded Solid Waste Container
c. S-198 – Private Fire Protection Connection
d. S-222A.1. – Septage/Chemical Toilet Disposal
e. S-222A.2. – Grease Disposal Fee