Agenda - 03-18-2014 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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9 5. How much will I have to pay through a district tax? The district tax rate will be set to generate funding for the every other week recycling service. It is currently estimated that the tax rate would be set at approximately 1.5 cents per $100 of assessed value. This would mean a property with an assessed value of $100,000 would pay $15 per year. 6. Why not continue charging the Fb ral 3 -R Fee of $38/ year? The County Attorney and the County Manager recommended to the Board of County Commissioners last year that the Board abolish the Floral 3-R Fee due to some uncertainty with regard to the fee being wholly consistent with state law authorizing counties to assess these type of fees. FbIlowing that recommendation, the Board agreed it did not wish to risk continuing a practice that was not unmistakably consistent with state law, so the annual rural recycling fee was eliminated and consideration of alternative financing of the rural recycling service was initiated. After several months of examining numerous funding alternatives the Board is proposing the Solid Waste Service Tax District to generate the replacement program funding. About 13,750 residentswho were eligible for the service were previously assessed the fee. 7. Will the Solid Waste Service District apply to vacant (undeveloped) land? Yes, the district tax would apply to all property located within the proposed district without regard to whether structures or homes exist on the property. 8. If the Board chooses not to adopt a Solid Waste Service District and wishes to establish a service opt -out program what would the estimated cost be for annual curbside recycling service? Is there data or information relating to performance of Opt -in programs? Key to estimation of the cost for opt -out service is the assumption made regarding how many paying customers will remain in the program. If the assumption is that of the current approximate 13,750 customers only 60% currently participate, and that of that 8,250 monthly users 20 %(1,650) choose to opt -out, the estimated annual fee for service would be increased accordingly Experience in other governmental jurisdictions (states and NC county's) provides convincing evidence that many property owners will choose not to participate, whir will result in increased costs for those who do participate. Economies of scale exist in recycling collection services like most other programs and services, meaning that the more property owners that join in funding a given service results in a reduced cost per each service unit. Alternatively, as the number of fee payers is reduced, costs increase for each remaining participant. A NCDENRFbcycling ':�pecialist has spoken previously to the B= as well as other recycling professionals, who have indicated the weaknesses of the so called "Opt -In" or subscription (fee for service) type recycling program.