Minutes 04-01-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Board eliminate the fee and consider other ways to fund that program. The 2012 tax bill was the last time the fee was assessed. The fee was $38/year. In 2013 the Board provided an interim funding for the program from landfill reserves. Over the next several months the Board discussed various options on how to address this funding problem. Elimination of the program was even considered, but unanimously abandoned due to measured participation of the rural community of about 57%. Some residents eligible for this service chose not to recycle, others delivered their recycling to convenience centers and a very few employed private haulers. It was also considered that the service was important in order to meet the County's aggressive waste reduction goal of 61%. Gayle Wilson said after considering and rejecting numerous funding alternatives, in December 2013, the Board indicated intent to implement a solid waste service district tax as the means to replace the funding lost when the fee was eliminated. One of the services discussed in March 2013 was a proposal to franchise waste and recyclables collection in unincorporated Orange County. The Board, following vigorous public opposition, eliminated this option from further consideration. He said the Board also recently discussed a subscription service option, whereby those residents who wanted to retain the service could pay, and those who wished not to pay could voluntarily opt-out. He said State statutes require a public hearing to be held prior to a Board adopting a service district, and the property owners of all parcels to be included in the district must be notified by letter of the hearing. He noted that the Solid Waste Convenience Centers (SWCC) are paid for by all residents of the County, though many residents do not use them. He said it is likely that any proposal the Board decides on may not necessarily be the long term solution to rural recycling program funding. Gayle Wilson addressed several of the questions from the hand out— Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): ➢ I have been paying the Solid Waste Convenience Center Fee for three years and it has increased to $40/year in that period. Included among the tax bill explanations for this fee is "The cost of expanding the hours of operation for the solid waste convenience centers". Why has there not been any expansion of hours in that three year period? • The hours of operation at the Eubanks Road and Walnut Grove Church Road Centers were increased by opening on Thursdays from 7 am to 6 pm effective September 5, 2013. ➢ How many exempt properties are there in the proposed district? • There are a total of 694 tax exempt properties in the proposed service district. ➢ How many vacant properties (no homes or other structures) are in the proposed district? • The total number of vacant properties within the district is approximately 5,469. ➢ What are the average home value and the average assessment throughout the county? • Average total property value throughout the county is $290,545.