Title
A MOTION requesting that the executive transmit two reports relating to solid waste division financial planning and rate increase implementation.
Body
WHEREAS, the solid waste division ("the division") has historically proposed fee increases on a biennial cycle, with two one-year increases in a single ordinance, and
WHEREAS, the division proposed a single year fee increase in 2026 to allow the division the opportunity to reprioritize and sequence capital investments and evaluate potential cost savings measures, and
WHEREAS, Proposed Ordinance 2026-0160 would increase fees beginning January 1, 2027, to accept solid waste, yard and clean wood waste, major appliances with refrigerants, mattresses, and special wastes by between 8 percent and 9 percent, depending on the material, and
WHEREAS, Proposed Ordinance 2026-0160 would further increase the amount of the fixed-annual charge from approximately $26.8 million to $29.1 million, an increase of 8.5 percent, and
WHEREAS, Proposed Ordinance 2026-0160 would further increase the low-income discount from twenty dollars to twenty-two dollars per entry, and
WHEREAS, the division is in the process of developing a low-income discount program for curbside collection, and the council encourages the division to work with public health - Seattle & King County and other departments and agencies to identify those eligible for the curbside and county-facility low-income discounts, and to conduct outreach to encourage those eligible individuals to use the programs, and
WHEREAS, the division has indicated that the revenue generated by the proposed 2027 rate increase would be allocated approximately 32 percent toward operating costs, 55 percent toward debt service supporting capital projects, and 13 percent toward transfers to the landfill reserve fund, and
WHEREAS, the council seeks a deeper understanding of the division's long-term financial planning, as well as a clearer understanding of how the proposed 2027 rate inc...
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