Agenda - 09-04-2014 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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33 1 Commissioner Gordon asked if staff will bring back an item for the Board to approve the 2 number of roll carts that are really needed. 3 Gayle Wilson said yes. 4 Commissioner Gordon said there was a plan at one time to increase the amount being 5 charged at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers (SWCC), as the current fees only cover 25 6 percent of expenses. She said some of the expenses are paid for by the $1.8 million transfer 7 from the general fund. She thought there was a plan independent of the recycling program to 8 increase those fees until eventually there was no dependence on the general fund. She asked 9 what happened to that plan. 10 Gayle Wilson said in the 4 years that the fee has existed the Board has increased it 3 11 times. He said there was never a hard and fast schedule or even if this would get to 100 12 percent. He said there was a plan to increase the fee over an ill defined period of time, but the 13 percentage was never firmly decided. 14 Commissioner Gordon said it occurs to her that this is not an either or situation. She 15 said with other departments fees are charged to cover the service. She said it makes sense to 16 recoup more money for the services rendered at the convenience centers. She said there may 17 be two separate issues. 18 Gayle Wilson said that is a policy decision the Board can make. 19 Commissioner Gordon said there are options within this to recoup expenses by charging 20 fees that more proportionately cover the services provided. 21 Commissioner Dorosin said option 3 lists replacement of all recycling charges and 22 convenience center fees with a tax increase. He asked about the possibility of eliminating only 23 the convenience center fees and paying for all of these costs out of the general fund. 24 Michael Talbert said it would be 1.15 or 1.2 cents to raise the $1.8 million. 25 Commissioner Dorosin asked if that would offset somewhat by eliminating the fees that 26 people pay. 27 Michael Talbert said yes. He said you would dedicate whatever level of tax to the solid 28 waste fund to pay for the convenience centers and eliminate the fees. 29 Commissioner Dorosin asked if this option could be added to the mix as option 3b - to 30 fund recycling out of the solid waste reserves and fund the SWCC through the general fund. 31 Michael Talbert said the current fee raises $1.2 million, so you will be raising $3 million 32 to do away with this fee and raise the additional $1.8 million that is needed to come from the 33 general fund. He said this equates to not quite 2 cents on the tax rate. 34 Commissioner Gordon asked Commissioner Dorosin if he is suggesting the Board raise 35 taxes 2 cents. 36 Commissioner Dorosin said he is not interested in raising fees for the convenience 37 center. He feels the Board should move toward funding all of it out of the general fund, as he 38 feels this is the most equitable way of doing it. 39 Commissioner Gordon asked if the proposal is to raise taxes by two cents. 40 Commissioner Dorosin said his proposal is to add an option 5 to eliminate convenience 41 center fees and raise the County property tax rate. 42 Commissioner Price asked if the recycling funding would be for the entire County or just 43 the arbitrary district that has been drawn. 44 Commissioner Dorosin said either of these options can be discussed. He said option 1 45 and option 2 make a distinction between funding rural curbside and funding all recycling with 46 reserves. 47 Commissioner Price said the current rural recycling district does not include all of the 48 rural areas. She asked if Commissioner Dorosin is suggesting that everyone would be eligible 49 for the curbside recycling.