The Board reviewed and gave direction on a new two-part regulatory fee structure concept that would charge both taxable and non-taxable parcels, with a flat parcel fee plus usage-based fees for agricultural cropped land and domestic users. The Board also supported continuing to explore reduced Part 2 fees for parcels using imported Feather River water. A draft five-year budget uses about $470,000 annually as a planning target to support SGMA compliance operations.
The Board approved moving forward with a two‑part regulatory fee approach, with all parcels paying a flat administrative fee and Part 2 concepts focused on per‑cropped‑acre and managed‑wetland charges rather than total parcel size. Groundwater protection standards were strengthened by setting MTs to protect about 95% of domestic wells, with an estimated 38 wells and $1.14M in mitigation at MTs. The Board also directed staff to include managed wetlands/duck clubs in Part 2.
