AGENDA #1b
BUDGET WORKING PAPER
TO: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
FROM: Bruce Heflin, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Increase in Commercial Refuse Collection Fees
DATE: April 2, 2003
During budget discussions, we were asked to consider an increase to existing fees for collection of commercial refuse.
DISCUSSION
Fees for collection of commercial refuse from businesses, apartments and selected condominiums/town homes were adjusted in October 2001 to include collections greater than once per week and were further adjusted in October 2002 to include a charge for once weekly pickups. Fee revenues reached a total of $100,400 during fiscal 2001-02 and are estimated to reach $200,000 in the current fiscal year. The base budget request for fiscal 2003-04 includes a total of $210,000 for this revenue account at current fees.
An overall increase of 10% to existing fees would result in an estimated maximum addition of $21,000 next year if the change were implemented starting July 1, 2003. The new total would be $231,000. While we have had difficulty in obtaining cost data from the private sector, we believe that the fees adjusted higher by 10% would remain lower than those charged by private haulers. We would recommend a process for notifying commercial establishments as soon before the effective date as possible so that each business could plan accordingly.
We have attached a fee schedule showing increases of 10% for each category of charge.
ATTACHMENT