SLO is upping some of its city fees. Here’s why
San Luis Obispo is raising some fees — and cutting others — as part of its annual effort to keep its charges in line with inflation.
According to a city news release, San Luis Obispo will raise user fees by 3.68% and cut impact fees by 0.51% starting July 1.
City fees are a way that local governments fund “individualized public services,” according to the city website. User fees are charged to individuals applying for city services, while impact fees are typically one-time charges on new developments.
For example, residents applying for a permit pay a permit fee, and those applying for a business license pay a business license fee — and both are user fees because their costs fall directly onto the individual rather than the general taxpayer.
Most everyday services will see relatively small increases, according to the release, while the largest dollar increases will impact major developments and construction.
“Given that fees are increasing by the percentage change to the Consumer Price Index and California Construction Cost Index, the most significant changes are to our higher cost fees,” city finance director Emily Jackson said in the release. “It is important for our customers to understand that fees are set at a level to recover the city’s costs for providing certain services that have an individualized benefit.”
Annual fee updates reduce the burden on taxpayers while allowing the city to continue providing high-quality services, according to the release.
The city posted a complete list of the fees effective July 1 online.
