Kentfield School District seeks increase in development fees
The Kentfield School District could collect more money from new residential and commercial development if a proposed fee increase is approved next month.
The district, which last increased its development construction fees in 2017, said a study it commissioned last year showed justification for a rate increase. The district website says the increases “are necessary to fund the construction of needed school facilities to accommodate students due to development.”
“Any increase approved by the board would apply to projects permitted following the implementation of the increase, which would be 60 days from the date of approval of the increase,” said Raquel Rose, the district superintendent. “Any permitted pending projects would not be impacted by this fee adjustment.”
A public hearing on the proposal is set for 5 p.m. April 4 at the district offices at 750 College Ave. Rose said district residents are welcome to comment at the public hearing or submit comments in writing. Supporting materials are on file at the district office and may be reviewed by the public prior to the hearing, she said.
Since 2017, the district has split its residential and commercial development fees with the Tamalpais Union High School District. The Kentfield district collects 70% of the revenue and the Tam Union district takes the rest.
According to the 43-page fee justification study performed last year, the two districts assess a combined fee of $3.48 per square foot for residential construction and $0.54 per square foot for commercial or industrial construction. Under the new proposal, the combined fees for residential would rise to $4.79 per square foot, and to $0.78 per square foot for commercial or industrial development.
Rose said the fee revenue in the 2021-22 school year was about $33,000, of which Kentfield received about $23,000 under the split with Tam Union.
College of Marin spokesperson Nicole Cruz said any potential increase in fees to the college is determined by the State Allocation Board. The college’s campus in Kentfield is adjacent to the school district complex.
“COM will pay the fee, should it be required, but anticipates the impact to the district to be negligible,” Cruz said.
The college is planning to build faculty housing along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard just east of College Avenue. The board of trustees reviewed plans for the faculty housing at its meeting on March 14. It was not immediately clear if the faculty housing development would be affected by a fee increase.
According to Rose, state education code permits the development fees to be collected, but restricts the use of the money.
“Fees collected may only be used in connection with facilities projects in the district,” Rose said.