Board approves interim 21.44% rate increase for Jilton Solid Waste; county to implement SB 1383 services July 1

The Merced County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 14 approved an interim rate increase requested by Jilton Solid Waste Management, allowing roughly a 21.44% increase to residential and commercial refuse rates in the company’s franchise areas (county franchise areas 6 and 7). The board also received presentations on statewide SB 1383 organics mandates and the county’s plan to add organics collection and other services beginning July 1.

Assistant Director of Public Works Lindsey Johnson said the ordinance before the board would amend Chapter 5.9 of the Merced County Code and implement an interim rate adjustment at the request of the hauler. Jilton representatives told the board the company had not requested a rate change since February 2013 and had absorbed significant cost increases from fuel, insurance, supply chain and labor pressures. Jilton’s presentation said the cumulative allowable Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase from February 2013 to 2024 was 42.75%; the company requested an interim increase of 21.44% to make operations more sustainable prior to the statewide SB 1383 effective services in July.

Jilton’s proposed residential examples included a change from $11.97 to $14.54 for a 60‑gallon cart and from $17.10 to $20.77 for a 90‑gallon cart; commercial rate tables were also presented. Controller Robert Pritchard clarified to supervisors that the board action would establish a new baseline rate and that future CPI adjustments would apply to the new base, not retroactively capture the difference between the 21.44% interim increase and cumulative CPI since 2013.

Supervisor Silvera moved to find the proposed ordinance exempt from CEQA (administrative rate setting) and to adopt the ordinance amending county code sections for refuse service fees; Supervisor McDaniel seconded. The board voted to adopt the ordinance. The clerk recorded the motion as passing.

Separately, staff and consultant Philip Maynolfi briefed the board on SB 1383 (state law requiring reductions in organic waste to landfill). The county’s implementation plan includes: an exemption for very low‑density census tracts (under 75 people per square mile), adding organics collection containers in franchise zones, full‑spectrum organics processing capacity via county or regional facilities (the county is developing capacity at the Highway 59 composting site), two bulky‑item curbside pickups per year, community drop‑off events, and robust education and technical assistance to limit contamination of organics streams. Staff said services to comply with SB 1383 will begin July 1; more details and a rate table are available on the county program website.