Loxahatchee Groves council approves residential solid-waste assessment resolution amid questions on subsidy

The Loxahatchee Groves Town Council approved Resolution 2025-67 on Sept. 3 to impose the residential solid-waste collection assessment for fiscal year 2025–26 and to collect the assessment under the uniform method of collection. The public hearing and vote followed council discussion about how the town has been covering a gap between assessment revenue and contract costs.

Council discussion and residents’ comments centered on an ongoing shortfall in the solid-waste fund. Community members and councilors noted that the assessment billed on tax rolls has not covered the town’s contract costs. A resident who spoke during public comment, Tracy Raffelowitz, described the shortfall: “In fiscal year 25, the assessment was budgeted to raise about $650,000, but the actual solid waste contract cost $720,000, which results in about $70,000 annual gap.” Raffelowitz asked the council to consider rebidding the solid-waste contract or adjusting the assessment.

Town staff explained how the town has used other revenue sources to fill part of the gap. The budget documents discussed at the hearing show a transfer into the solid-waste budget of $106,648 from the general fund; council members and staff said that franchise-fee and general-fund transfers have been used to subsidize residential service. Councilors pressed staff about whether franchise fees are restricted to particular uses and were told those fees flow into the general fund and are not legally limited to a single expenditure.

Residents also raised operational questions about commercial roll-off dumpsters and whether commercial franchise fees should offset residential costs. A resident, Theresa Beresford, said larger users such as farms and nurseries commonly obtain commercial dumpsters rather than relying solely on curbside cans.

After public comment, a council member moved to approve Resolution 2025-67; the motion carried. The resolution authorizes imposition and collection of the residential assessment and approves the assessment roll for collection.

Council members and residents said they want the town to present clearer, line-item budget documentation showing transfers into the solid-waste fund and any remaining subsidy amounts. Several speakers urged the town to pursue a rebid or renegotiation of the solid-waste contract to reduce the annual shortfall.

The resolution takes effect as written; any future changes to the assessment level or how the town funds the shortfall would require separate council action and are subject to the public-notice process for special assessments.