Santa Rosa cuts developer fees for water, sewer access

Santa Rosa on Tuesday slashed the fees it charges developers to connect to the water and sewer system.

The city’s demand fee for wastewater will drop 15 percent to 58 percent while such fees for water will sink 24 percent to 66 percent.

While some builders took issue with when the fee takes effect, Mayor Scott Bartley said the lack of objection to the change by the construction industry was a testament its wide acceptance.

“This is a huge good news item,” Mayor Scott Bartley said. “This is a huge positive for the economy the construction industry and everybody.”

The cut in fees is because of a change in how they are calculated as well as slower growth, the drought and conservation efforts changing assumptions about what major infrastructure projects will be needed in the near future.

Healdsburg and Windsor made similar changes to their fees in recent years.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @srcitybeat.