Agenda - 09-30-2003-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. The long -term recommendation cannot be fully implemented in time to cover the projected deficit over the next two years and a bridge financing mechanism is needed. 5. The recommended long -term financing mechanism is a services -based fee and the SWAB believes that the transitional bridge financing should also be fee - based. Use of a fee instead of a tax would create consistency with future proposed fees and establish and maintain as soon as possible equity among classes of users for whom the services are available. 6. The system should begin to use, as soon as possible, the existing billing system used to collect taxes in order to minimize administrative costs and maximize collection rates. Considering all of the foregoing, the SWAB recommends that the BOCC adopt the following series of fees over the next three years. This series of fees would incrementally add elements of the comprehensive prepaid solid waste services fee to make the transition from the current system, based ninety percent on landfill tipping fees, to a system based on a prepaid comprehensive solid waste services fee in as smooth and equitable a fashion as practical. FY 2003 -04 Institution of a universal residential solid waste services availability fee of $30 per residential dwelling unit throughout Orange County, including those in the Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough, to cover the costs of general recycling services, hazardous waste collections, education and other universal solid waste services provided in Orange County. Such a fee would be levied on the property tax bill and would be applied to each dwelling unit, such that: • a single family dwelling unit would be liable for a $30 fee, • a duplex for $60, and • a multifamily dwelling for $30 for each dwelling unit. • mobile homes in mobile homes parks would be billed at $30 per mobile home. Funds from the fee would be combined with other funds generated by the Solid Waste Management Department, such as the present tipping fees, to fund all the Solid Waste Management operations. Based on an estimated 51,000 residential units in Orange County in 2003 -04, this fee will raise approximately $1,530,000 in 2003 -04, if funds were collected from 100 percent of residential units.