Rate increase proposed for county landfill

The Flathead County Solid Waste Board will consider a proposal later this month to raise landfill fees by 8 percent.

If approved, the increase would appear on the November property tax bills.

Landfill director Dave Prunty said the annual residential assessment would go up by about $6, from $74.75 to $80.73 per year; the "gate fee" charged at the landfill would increase $2.30, from $28.75 to $31.05 per ton. Commercial rates, which are based on the amount of garbage produced, also would go up by 8 percent.

The landfill's last rate increase was in 2004.

"As an enterprise fund, we need to adjust our rates to keep the district in good financial standing," Prunty said. "Our options were to raise fees a little bit every year, raise them every two or three years, or do nothing for 10 years" and then have a big increase.

During previous discussions, the board seemed to prefer a series of small increases of about 2 to 3 percent per year for the next several years. To do that, however, it would have to go through annual public hearings.

To avoid that time-consuming process, the board instead will consider a motion to approve the 8 percent increase, with the understanding that another rate increase could be proposed in 2009 or 2010.

The landfill's substantial capital improvement requirements are driving the rate increase, Prunty said.

Almost $14 million will be spent over the next five years on several major projects, including $4 million to excavate and line the next expansion area, plus another $3.9 million for a landfill closure/post-closure trust fund and $3 million for equipment replacements.

The landfill also is setting aside money to buy more land for the next expansion area.

The Solid Waste Board will consider the rate proposal at its next meeting at the landfill office on April 24, beginning at 5 p.m. The public is allowed to attend.

If the board decides to proceed, it will hold a formal public hearing during its May 22 meeting. The issue then goes to the county commissioners, who could hold a second hearing if there's enough public interest.

"Our hope is that the commissioners will address this item in June," Prunty said. "We have to have it done by the end of August in order to get the information to the Treasurer's Office" for the November tax bills.

Reporter Bill Spence may be reached at 758-4459 or by e-mail at bspence@dailyinterlake.com