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Santa Barbara council sets multi-year solid waste rates, approves FY26 increases after Proposition 218 hearing
Summary
After a Proposition 218 hearing and review of a cost-of-service study, the council directed staff to set the FY26 solid waste rates and establish maximum increases through 2030; representatives said curbside cart standardization and enhanced services are part of a new franchise agreement with Marborg Industries.
The Santa Barbara City Council held a public hearing on proposed solid waste utility rates on June 10 and directed staff to implement a multi-year rate schedule that sets the FY26 increases and establishes maximum allowed increases for FY27 through FY30.
Environmental Services staff and consultants presented a cost-of-service study and recommended rates that reflect new contractual terms in the 2023 franchise agreement with Marborg Industries and updated processing agreements with Santa Barbara County. The staff presentation noted that Marborg held compensation flat for two years as the city transitioned to curbside cart collection and added services at no additional cost during the early part of the franchise, including doubled bulky-item collection allowances, faster abandoned-waste response, and twice-annual household hazardous-waste events.
The staff-recommended FY26 rate changes were explained with representative customer impacts: a typical single-family household with 65-gallon carts would see a monthly bill increase of $4.45; a multiunit property with dumpster service might see larger increases. Staff also noted state requirements (SB 1383) for container standardization and contamination monitoring.
After public testimony and follow-up questions from council members about curbside cart access and waivers for in-place collection (medical and age-based exceptions), Council Member Jordan moved the staff recommendation to adopt the FY26 rates and set the maximum increases through 2030; Council Member Gutierrez seconded the motion. The clerk reported 82 written protests had been received and there was no majority protest under Proposition 218 (California Constitution, Article XIII D). On roll-call the motion passed (vote recorded as 5 yes, 1 no/abstention pattern with Council Member Santa Maria recorded as abstaining).
Ending
With the action, staff was directed to prepare the formal rate schedule for adoption with the budget on June 17. Council and staff noted implementation is phased with container exchange and that staff will track franchise inflation adjustments that could reduce future maximum increases if contract inflation factors are lower than caps.
