Solid‑waste budget request of $3.6M and multiple benefit‑district budget updates presented to Riley County commissioners

Riley County solid‑waste staff presented proposed 2026 budgets to the commission, including a $3.6 million proposed solid‑waste budget and multiple benefit‑district operating budgets.

Key points: • Solid waste: The proposed 2026 solid‑waste budget is approximately $3.6 million. Personnel costs were increased modestly; contractual services were increased to reflect higher operator and hauling costs; capital outlay of roughly $80,000 is planned for ongoing equipment maintenance and equipment improvements. Revenues continue to assume a $64/ton rate.

• Benefit districts: The county has assumed operation and maintenance responsibilities previously performed by private operators in several benefit districts; budgets were adjusted to reflect the county operating those systems. Several districts show modest increases to contractual and commodity line items to cover county operation and rural‑water rate increases. Hunters Island and Keats were highlighted: Keats is pursuing lagoon construction and has grant funding and project expenditures in the 2025–2026 plan; Hunters Island staff plan a rate‑increase proposition for next year to maintain operations.

• Landfill closure/monitoring: Staff reported that, having met a 30‑year post‑closure monitoring requirement, KDHE may reduce or end some groundwater and gas monitoring obligations; the county plans to request less general‑fund support for the closure fund this year (request reduced from the historical $30,000 to $10,000), pending KDHE confirmation.

Managers said the county takeover of operations could raise short‑term costs but should reduce long‑term O&M once lagoon and infrastructure projects are completed. Commissioners will review the budget packets and follow up with questions; staff will return with final numbers and grant award details as projects move forward.