Lemoore rate study finds refuse fund healthy; council approves increases to optional waste-service fees
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Summary
Consultant Dan Bergman told council the refuse enterprise outperformed 2019 projections with a fund balance projecting over $5 million; no base rate increase was required, but council approved cost-of-service increases for optional items (extra carts, replacement/collection fees) and discussed the long-term cost of state electric-truck rules.
Consultant Dan Bergman of IGS presented the city’s refuse-enterprise rate review and a proposed update to miscellaneous optional solid-waste fees. Bergman said revenues have outpaced his 2019 projections and expenses fell in recent years largely because of vacancies and lower tipping-volume, producing a healthy fund balance that could support vehicle replacement.
Bergman said a fund peak around $5.3 million is projected in fiscal 2026 and that the refuse operation can buy replacement trucks without a base-rate increase now. He warned the council to watch California’s Advanced Clean Fleets regulation, which will require state and local government fleets to ensure more than 50% of annual truck purchases are zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) starting in 2027 and reach 100% purchase of ZEVs by that date. Bergman estimated conventional refuse trucks cost about $450,000 while electric refuse trucks can cost about $1.3 million. Using the study’s assumptions, he said converting the city’s residential fleet to ZEVs would increase per-residence costs roughly $5–$6 per month (not including charging infrastructure costs).
On optional fees, Bergman proposed raising cost-based charges for additional recycling or organics carts and setting replacement, temporary suspension and recovery fees at $60 each. Staff and council discussed how to implement an inventory process (drivers noting extra carts over several collection cycles) and an initial notification window for residents with existing extra containers. City staff recommended adding the optional fees to the master user-fee schedule rather than treating them as base rates subject to Prop 218 protest processes.
After public comment and discussion about equity and implementation logistics, the council voted 5-0 to adopt the proposed updates to the master fee schedule for optional solid-waste services.
