Most solid-waste fees proposed to decline
John Rowe uses a loader to move trash into a waste handler dump at Kootenai County Solid Waste Transfer Station last fall. Most of the county's solid waste fees are proposed to decrease on Jan. 1, 2020. (LOREN BENOIT/Press File)
COEUR d'ALENE — Finally, a fee proposal that don't stink.
They're being floated by Kootenai County's Solid Waste Department.
The yearly fee charged to all property owners is proposed to fall 5.4%, from $93 to $88, on Jan. 1, 2020. A public hearing on the department's fee proposals is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday by the county commissioners at the Administration Building.
"The solid-waste revenue has increased during the past few years due to more properties being developed that pay an annual solid waste fee along with increased waste at the transfer stations resulting in increased commercial revenue," Solid Waste director Cathy Mayer said. "At the same time, the Solid Waste Department has implemented operational efficiencies to control expenses. This allows us the ability to pass the savings back to Kootenai County property owners and commercial users."
The solid waste annual assessment fee last increased in 2007 from $91 to $93 per year. Prior to that, the rate was $88 in 2005.
"This (proposal) brings it back down to the 2005 rate," Mayer said.
The change would impact more than 61,000 residential property owners in Kootenai County.
The primary commercial fee that is charged at the scales is proposed to be $65 per ton, down from $67.70.
The commercial fee, along with the yearly assessment, are the primary sources of revenue for the department, which receives no other financial support.
"(The fee proposal) demonstrates county operations are efficient and effective as currently conducted," Mayer said.
Sixteen total solid-waste fees are proposed to decrease. Three are proposed to increase.
The largest per-ton cost reduction would be for segregated wood waste. That fee would be reduced from $54.10 per ton to $45 per ton. a decrease of 16.8%.
"The reduced rate will encourage businesses and contractors to separate wood from garbage prior to disposal," the department said in a news release. "The wood waste is chipped and transported for reuse instead of landfilled."
In the past five years, the department has processed 32% more waste. The reduction of fees will decrease revenue by an estimated $500,000, the department said.
"Even with these reductions and taking into consideration all the future planned construction projects, as well as operational and equipment needs, it is anticipated that fees should not need to be modified for potentially nine years," the release states.