Minutes 06-03-2014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gordon said there was a plan at one time to increase the amount being charged at the Solid Waste Convenience Centers (SWCC), as the current fees only cover 25 percent of expenses. She said some of the expenses are paid for by the $1.8 million transfer from the general fund. She thought there was a plan independent of the recycling program to increase those fees until eventually there was no dependence on the general fund. She asked what happened to that plan. Gayle Wilson said in the 4 years that the fee has existed the Board has increased it 3 times. He said there was never a hard and fast schedule or even if this would get to 100 percent. He said there was a plan to increase the fee over an ill defined period of time, but the percentage was never firmly decided. Commissioner Gordon said it occurs to her that this is not an either or situation. She said with other departments fees are charged to cover the service. She said it makes sense to recoup more money for the services rendered at the convenience centers. She said there may be two separate issues. Gayle Wilson said that is a policy decision the Board can make. Commissioner Gordon said there are options within this to recoup expenses by charging fees that more proportionately cover the services provided. Commissioner porosin said option 3 lists replacement of all recycling charges and convenience center fees with a tax increase. He asked about the possibility of eliminating only the convenience center fees and paying for all of these costs out of the general fund. Michael Talbert said it would be 1.15 or 1.2 cents to raise the $1.8 million. Commissioner porosin asked if that would offset somewhat by eliminating the fees that people pay. Michael Talbert said yes. He said you would dedicate whatever level of tax to the solid waste fund to pay for the convenience centers and eliminate the fees. Commissioner porosin asked if this option could be added to the mix as option 3b - to fund recycling out of the solid waste reserves and fund the SWCC through the general fund. Michael Talbert said the current fee raises $1.2 million, so you will be raising $3 million to do away with this fee and raise the additional $1.8 million that is needed to come from the general fund. He said this equates to not quite 2 cents on the tax rate. Commissioner Gordon asked Commissioner porosin if he is suggesting the Board raise taxes 2 cents. Commissioner porosin said he is not interested in raising fees for the convenience center. He feels the Board should move toward funding all of it out of the general fund, as he feels this is the most equitable way of doing it. Commissioner Gordon asked if the proposal is to raise taxes by two cents. Commissioner porosin said his proposal is to add an option 5 to eliminate convenience center fees and raise the County property tax rate. Commissioner Price asked if the recycling funding would be for the entire County or just the arbitrary district that has been drawn. Commissioner porosin said either of these options can be discussed. He said option 1 and option 2 make a distinction between funding rural curbside and funding all recycling with reserves. Commissioner Price said the current rural recycling district does not include all of the rural areas. She asked if Commissioner porosin is suggesting that everyone would be eligible for the curbside recycling. Commissioner porosin said he is describing it as it is listed in option 1 or 2, to fund either the current or the expanded district. Michael Talbert clarified that Board agreed at their last meeting to continue the existing rural program as it is in place now, with no additional services or expansion.