Trash assessment resolution reviewed
A resolution establishing a fee for solid waste disposal for all Marion County residences and businesses was reviewed Monday by Marion County Commission.
No action was taken but commissioners scheduled a vote on the issue at their upcoming Monday meeting.
Jim Kaup, special county attorney for solid waste matters, presented the draft proposal.
Fees will be $6.75 per month for homes and $11 per month per collection unit for businesses. A collection unit means two cubic yards of solid waste collected.
The fee will be paid annually to the county, at the same time property taxes are due. Annual cost is $81 for homes and $132 or more for businesses.
Fees will be set annually so they may change from one year to the next.
If approved, the fee will appear on the tax notices sent this fall.
Money will be used to operate the transfer station and pay off $850,000 in bonds used to buy it.
This disposal fee currently is collected by cities or private trash haulers. When the county fee takes effect, the cities and private haulers are supposed to drop that fee from their charges.
"I'm not sure everyone realizes that," said Commissioner Howard Collett.
Commissioners pointed out, though, that they have no control over how much cities or trash haulers charge. While they can't call it a disposal fee, they could maintain the money to generate revenue.
A "business" is any non-residential place that generates or may generate solid waste. Hotels and motels will be considered businesses, as will retirement homes without independent living units.
Home-based businesses will be considered businesses if the amount of trash generated exceeds that of nearby residences.
Businesses also include any place or structure owned by a non-profit organization that generates trash. They must pay the trash disposal fee.
Residences will be any living quarters designed for occupancy by a single family, even if that is a family of one person. Each apartment, independent living unit, and home will be considered a separate residence.
The original proposal would have counted two or four units as a single residence, but commissioners didn't think that proposal was fair.
"I have a real problem with someone paying a half or a quarter," said Commissioner Leroy Wetta. "I could show you private homes that generate less trash than some apartments."
"Everybody has to pay for solid waste disposal, because it benefits all of us," Collett said.
Kaup emphasized that any aspect of the fee schedule can be changed annually. Charges for out-of-county trash aren't included and will be set separately. Commissioners indicated they would be slightly higher, possibly $1 a month, for out-of-county solid waste that is regularly delivered. The amount is expected to be minimal.
The proposed fees are based on 4,876 residences, which will generate $394,956, and 601 businesses, which generates at least $79,332.
The actual figure will vary because some businesses will have increased trash (resulting in increased fees), and it assumes there will be no vacancies or delinquent payments.
Owners of a structure that is vacant for a full calendar year can apply for a refund of that year's assessment. Owners who believe they are being charged for more trash than they dispose of can file an appeal by Dec. 1 of each year.
Those who receive trash service for less than a calendar year will pay for the portion of the year they received service.
Failure to pay the fee could result in a lien being placed on the property.
Expenses are estimated at $320,000 in operating costs and $116,000 in debt service, based on 10-year bonds. Commissioners also want to build up a contingency fund so the bonds can be paid off in less than 10 years.
Commissioners want the fees to cover all costs associated with the transfer station. They don't want to use property tax dollars.
