Title
ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING SOLID WASTE FEES FOR 2019.
Presented by: Carli Sanchez, Principal Management Analyst, Division of Finance.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt the resolution and authorize the Chairman to sign.
Body
Background: State law (K.S.A. 65-3410) authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to impose solid waste fees to defray the costs of planning and administering solid waste collection and disposal programs. If the Commission chooses to do so, the law requires the fee be imposed by resolution prior to July 1 for imposition in the subsequent year.
Sedgwick County first imposed solid waste fees in fiscal year 2000 and has done so in each subsequent fiscal year. Since 2003, the fee has funded household hazardous waste operations, waste minimization programs and general administrative support. The fee has been used to fund various special projects, such as the Trash Coupon Program from 2011-2014. In 2019, the fee will continue to fund clean-up of illegal dumping sites and storm debris in unincorporated parts of the County. Additional programs planned for 2019 include continuation of the Bulky Waste Coupon Program, a waste tire collection event, drug takeback program at participating police stations in Sedgwick County, 3-day e-waste collection event (weather permitting), and clean-up of storm events as needed. Deer Creek is slated to have tree debris removed in 2018 and possibly into 2019. In each year, the fee has been less than $10 annually for all classes of property owners.
The fee varies according to property classifications, with residential property owners paying a fixed amount per dwelling unit and owners of commercial, industrial, agricultural, and other classes of property paying amounts based on the waste generation characteristics of their business. The fee is structured to recover the full cost of specified solid waste services, with each customer group (residential and nonresidential property owners) paying aggregate fee totals based on the estimated share of service benefit they could receive. The County has chosen to impose the fee on the annual property tax bill, which is collected by the County Treasurer with tax payments. The resolution also adds a provision to allow a waiver of the fee for government agencies that are tax exempt.
Solid waste fees were originally based on Land Use Codes. The Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Property Valuation, directed Kansas counties to replace Land Use Codes with the Land Based Classification Standard (LBCS) function codes to "describe the current and predominant economic function of each parcel of real property" several years ago. Counties were required to make this change as they migrated from the Kansas Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal (KSCAMA) system to the Orion computer assisted mass appraisal system; Sedgwick County migrated from KSCAMA system to Orion system several years ago.
Analysis: The resolution proposed for the 2019 solid waste fee adopts a range of fees which vary according to classification of property. Proposed fees for 2019 are flat compared with the fees imposed in 2018, and all fees are less than $10 for the year. The recommended fee schedule for 2019 is:
Residential parcel (each dwelling unit) $5.88
Commercial & industrial parcels (including ag)
Tier 1 (each parcel) $4.44
Tier 2 (each parcel) $5.58
Tier 3 (each parcel) $6.73
Tier 4 (each parcel) $7.87
Tier 5 (each parcel: rate 5.58 times number of tenant spaces)
Alternatives: The Commission could decline to adopt the Resolution and fund 2019 solid waste activities with general revenues (property taxes) or eliminate solid waste services.
Financial Considerations: This proposed 2019 solid waste fee is expected to produce $1.3 million in 2019, which, when added to funding anticipated from transfer station tonnage fees, C&D landfill license fees, and available cash from prior years, will fund the 2019 proposed solid waste budget as currently requested. The initial requested 2019 solid waste budget maintains current service levels of Household Hazardous Waste and Environmental Resources, and includes funding for solid waste special projects.
Legal Considerations: K.S.A. 65-3410, et seq., provides statutory authority to impose the fees by resolution. A simple majority vote is required.
Policy Considerations: The resolution furthers the program and funding strategy identified in the County's adopted Solid Waste Management Plan.
Outside Attendees: N/A
Multimedia Presentation: None.