Like any service, there are costs to providing that service. Solid waste collection services are no different. The major expenses for the rendering of solid waste collection services are costs to purchase and maintain vehicles and containers, fuel, disposal costs, and personnel expenses. All the expenses within the solid waste collection industry increase every year and since 2008 they have increased on average of 35%, while there has been no rate increase to DFB residents and businesses since 2008. Solid waste collections are part of the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund. This fund is meant to be self-supporting, meaning that it should generate revenues that cover the expenses to provide the services.
As expenses have gone up every year the revenues are no longer sufficient to cover the expenses. This has caused the Fund to exhibit a net deficit fund balance. This deficit has continued to grow over the last few years and two external auditing agencies have recently advised that the rates are no longer sufficient to generate enough revenues to cover the existing and projected expenses to provide for the solid waste collection services.
The City hired a financial consultant to conduct a rate sufficiency analysis for the Solid Waste Fund in 2019, then again in 2022. That study was completed in the summer of 2022 and recommended a 5-year rate plan for multiple rate increases to become effective on October 1, 2022.
On October 27, 2022, a public workshop was held to present the findings and recommendations of the solid waste rate sufficiency study.
On December 6, 2022, a follow-up presentation was provided at the regular city commission meeting. At that time the commission voted to approve the five-year solid waste rate plan.
The approved 5-year solid waste schedule can be found by visiting Solid Waste Rate Schedule.