Ocoee commission approves one-time reserve transfer and $0.42 annual increase to residential solid-waste fee

The Ocoee City Commission on Aug. 5 approved a resolution raising the city's annual residential solid-waste fee from $3.02 to $3.44 per household and directed a one-time transfer from general-fund reserves to restore the solid-waste fund.

Commissioners heard a staff presentation outlining a multi-year shortfall in the solid-waste fund and an auditor's finding that the fund would show a material note in the coming audit if not addressed. Public Works Director Steve Krug and finance staff told the commission the fund faced a combination of historic operating shortfalls and accounting losses tied to the city's transition to a private contractor in 2019, plus an outstanding interfund loan for recycle carts.

Krug said the city was proposing two steps: a one-time transfer of $1,300,000 from general-fund reserves to true up the fund and a $0.42 annual increase per…