Staff recommends raising rural household fee and tipping fees after solid-waste budget review; board signals support for keeping service level

Solid‑waste staff told the board the enterprise fund faces a projected FY26 shortfall if capital and service requests are retained. The convenience‑center (rural household) fee is currently $125 per household; staff provided a menu of options that combine fee increases, service reductions and CIP deferrals.

For landfill tipping fees, staff presented options ranging from a $5 per‑ton increase (no CIP) up to a $14 per‑ton increase (to keep all CIP items). For convenience‑center funding the staff recommended raising the rural household fee to $150 (a $25 increase), which would preserve current service levels. During discussion several commissioners expressed preference for higher increases that would maintain service and fund CIP; Commissioner Robbie Leggett urged keeping service levels intact. After discussion commissioners indicated support for a $30 increase (raising the fee to $155) and for preserving current convenience‑center services rather than cutting days or types of waste accepted. Several commissioners emphasized public concerns, staff workload at convenience centers and the difficulty of cutting construction and demolition (C&D) collections that many residents use.

On landfill tipping fees staff recommended a $6 per‑ton increase (to $64 for C&D in the proposed option) to fund limited landfill maintenance and a 10‑year plan; commissioners asked staff to return with confirmatory data on the statutory close‑out reserves and the exact amount of current restricted fund balance that is earmarked for landfill closure and stabilization.

No formal roll‑call vote on tipping‑fee or household‑fee changes was recorded at the work session; commissioners signaled support for options that preserve service and avoid cutting convenience‑center days. Staff will return with final recommended fee language to adopt as part of the May budget process.