County staff outline solid waste budget, landfill valuation method and closure fund balances

Cathy (Kathy Funk Baxter, Finance Director, Speaker 5) and Sean (Public Works, Speaker 8) briefed commissioners on multiple solid waste accounts including customer billings, a Spillman software pass‑through, and capital budgets for landfill projects. Key figures: accrual accounting shows roughly $3.45M in current receivables for customer billings that staff expect to collect in coming months; the 2026 budget for solid waste revenue is roughly $27M and expenses are close to that level when transfers are included.

On landfill valuation, staff explained the county uses a remaining‑capacity valuation with a 6% return assumption (used historically and recommended by legal counsel and auditors) to calculate annual rent from landfill value; that method currently produces about $7.5M in annual rent rather than an $8M maximum that could be charged. Staff said the 6% assumption has been reviewed during budget cycles (last reviewed while preparing the 2025 budget) and that the figure is meant to be consistent over time. Capital items discussed include a vertical gas well project (~$1.7M) and ongoing design for a future cell (Cell 10). Closure and post‑closure funds hold roughly $19M in balances and earn interest that staff aim to use to reduce annual transfer requirements. Commissioners asked for a city‑by‑city breakdown of transfer subsidies and for further analysis on rent and capacity assumptions.