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Helena staff propose $4 transfer‑station tipping fee increase to shore up capital needs
Summary
Solid‑waste staff proposed a $4 increase to the transfer‑station tipping fee to fund capital repairs at the aging transfer station. Staff estimated the increase would raise roughly $180,000 annually; the county plans to reduce landfill tipping fees by $2, which staff said effectively alters the local fee structure.
Solid‑waste staff told the commission they plan to seek a $4 per‑ton increase in the transfer‑station tipping fee to address aging infrastructure and capital needs at the transfer station.
Pete, the city’s solid‑waste lead, said the transfer station serves more than 80,000 vehicle visits a year and that the facility experiences heavy daily use. Staff said the tipping‑fee increase would generate about $180,000 in additional revenue, based on current volumes (staff estimated roughly 45,000 tons moved through the facility). Staff also said the county is proposing a $2 reduction on the landfill side; staff recommended the city maintain a higher transfer‑station fee to build cash reserves for capital projects.
Staff listed priority capital items including a new scale house/traffic‑flow redesign, a sealed unloading ("z wall") area to accept small public loads without driving into the tipping floor, tipping‑floor repairs and loading‑chute improvements. Staff told commissioners they would present the fee change via a resolution of intention on May 19.
Commissioners asked about customer impacts, account types and the distribution of costs. Staff said there are about 11,800 city permit holders and roughly 700 merchant accounts; the fee increase would affect cash customers, county users and commercial account holders. Staff said the $4 increase would equate to about $180,000 in revenue; the county’s proposed landfill fee adjustments would be accounted for separately by the county.
Staff sought direction to proceed with a resolution of intention; commissioners expressed support for addressing capital needs but asked staff to continue outreach and to provide more detail before final adoption.
