Minutes - 20040621 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

that the County has already subsidized this, and taking from the funds would be digging deeper hole. Commissioner Carey is not comfortable with taking money out of the enterprise fund. He thinks it would be shortsighted to continue the subsidy and then have to increase the fee substantially later. He suggested figuring out a way to reduce the basic fee to half, and then figure out a way to came up with $1 million. Half could be put on the general tax rate and the other half could come from the enterprise fund. Commissioner Halkiotis asked to see a variation on what Commissioner Carey described. This is another unfunded issue. He said that the majority of people do not knave how much it costs to recycle. He is supportive of starting with a half schedule or a three quarter schedule just to get the ball rolling. He thinks the education should be put on a flier with the tax bills. Commissioner Brown said that recycling is a strong ethic in Grange County. She has a piece of property in Chatham and she pays $120 just to have access to the recycling center. The county fee is considerably less, with mare services. She asked how Chair Jacobs' proposal would play out financially. Rod Visser said that the $36 fee would generate $2 million. There would have to be an additional $1 million. A portion of this could came from the fund balance of the enterprise fund and the other portion could come from delaying certain capital expenses. All of it would shave up as an appropriation from fund balance, and certain monies allocated for projects would not be transferred. Commissioner Gordon would like to go ahead and implement what the SWAB proposed, except add a piece to allow for a subsidy far very low-income households. Commissioner Brawn said that she would not vote for any fee that does not include a reimbursement piece for law-income households. Staff verified that this was included. Commissioner Carey said that a flat fee for everyone would generate perceptions about subsidy by one group or another. If there were a differential fee, it would reinforce the fact that it costs to have more services. He supports the differentiated fee. His proposal is far an $1$ fee for basic service, $57 for urban curbside, $36 for rural curbside, and $32 for multi-family. This keeps the differential in place. The other million will come out of the general fund and the enterprise fund. Commissioner Halkiotis endorsed this concept. Commissioner Brawn said that she would prefer it all to be a fee. Commissioner Gordon said that she would be opposed to putting anything on the general property tax rate. She would rather use money from the enterprise fund. Commissioner Brown said that to take it out of the general fund would affect the County's bond rating and would go against the underlying principles of the interlocal agreement. Chair Jacobs said there seems to be three basic issues: whether it should all be a fee, whether there should be full recovery of the $3 million this year, and whether there should be a fee and full recovery with the various levels of service. The Board voted on whether to have a fee or have it as part of the property tax. Fee: Ayes, 4; No, 1 {Commissioner Carey) - It will be a fee. Full recovery this year: Ayes- 2 (Commissioner Brown and Commissioner Gordon); Nays-3(Commissioner Carey, Commissioner Halkiotis, and Chair Jacobs} Will not necessarily be recovered this year