Novato Mulls Updates To Regulatory Fees

NOVATO, CA — Novato will hold a public hearing next week in which it will consider updating it regulatory fees.

The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

Novato currently assesses fees for building permitting and construction, planning reviews, land development encroachment permitting and police services including accident reports and false alarm responses, among other services.

The city has been working with ClearSource Financial Consulting to complete a citywide user and regulatory fee study.

The fee study provides an up-to-date analysis of the city’s current costs of providing fee-related services while also ensuring that the city maintains compliance with state and local policies and continues to meet the needs of the community.

As part of a general cost recovery strategy, local governments adopt user fees to fund services provided or required due to the request or action of an individual or entity. User and regulatory fees are set according to the estimated reasonable cost of service.

A fee for service ensures that an individual or entity bears most, if not all, of the cost incurred by the city to provide that service. When a fee does not fully cover the cost for service another city revenue source subsidizes the cost – in most cases, the General Fund.