Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
La Plata council hears questions on FY2026 fee schedule; record kept open through May 20
Summary
At a May 13 Town Council meeting, staff presented the proposed fiscal year 2026 fee schedule, answering council questions about a new multi-can refuse fee, a 3% across-the-board utility increase and a 16% rise in certain developer facility fees. The council voted to keep the public record open through 4 p.m. May 20 for further comment.
The La Plata Town Council held a public hearing May 13 on the proposed fiscal year 2026 fee schedule, focusing debate on proposed sanitation charges, developer facility fees and implementation details for a new “additional can” refuse charge.
Town staff told the council they recommend adopting the schedule as presented. “It is recommended that the fee schedule be adopted as presented,” Assistant Town Manager Michelle Minor said during the hearing.
Council members pressed staff for details on the new refuse collection approach and other changes. Councilman Eric Sampson asked why the administration chose an added fee for additional residential trash cans rather than raising the base sanitation rate. Minor said the multi-can fee is intended to align charges with usage and limit across-the-board increases, noting that last year’s sanitation increases were large and the town wants to minimize further impact on residents.
Treasurer Larson told the council that the fee for an additional can would be roughly $32.60 per quarter for both residential and commercial accounts. Staff said the multi-can charge was new and that the town does not yet know how many households will be affected; they plan to monitor usage in the first year and communicate with residents before the fee takes effect.
Staff also explained a 16% increase in “major facility” fees assessed to developers. “We have done the MOD 1 capital improvement — that was an over $5,000,000 project. There’s also the Southwest Quadrant Pump Station,” Assistant Town Manager Minor said, adding those capital projects raised the capacity-related fee component that developers pay.
Council members asked about the basis for a 3% across-the-board increase in public utility service fees (water, sewer, stormwater and sanitation). Minor said staff used a 3% projection because an outside rate study is incomplete; she told the council the town will provide the incomplete Baker Tilly study for review when available.
Staff described how the town will track additional trash cans. Public Works maintains a replacement list and the billing system shows accounts previously billed for extra cans; residents whose records show an extra can but who no longer possess it will be asked to contact Public Works to correct the record. “We’re going to send out a communication saying our records show that this resident has an additional trash can,” Minor said.
After discussion, Councilman Johnson moved to keep the public record open on the FY2026 fee schedule until 4 p.m. on May 20; Councilman McCormick seconded. The motion passed by roll call vote: Mayor James, Councilmen Guttenberg, McCormick, Sampson and Johnson voted aye.
The hearing record for the fee schedule remains open through 4 p.m. May 20. Staff said they will publish notices on the town website and send direct communications to residents about changes to refuse billing and options to return unneeded cans.
—
What’s next: The council will receive any written comments entered into the record by 4 p.m. May 20 and may discuss revisions at a future meeting prior to final adoption. If the council makes changes after May 20, staff reminded members the town may need to republish the schedule and allow a 15‑day public comment period before final adoption.
