Gucci County raises residential solid-waste fee to $85 and certifies delinquent commercial fees to tax rolls

The Gucci County Board approved changes to its solid-waste fee schedule and certified the annual delinquent commercial solid-waste fee list at its Sept. 23 meeting.

Solid Waste staff said the proposed fee changes were recommended by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and reflected rising costs of managing waste that have not been fully covered since the last fee increase in 2020. The board approved a residential solid-waste fee increase from $70 to $85 per year, updated seasonal classifications, and a new code-based approach for nonresidential commercial fees so the charges can be placed on property tax statements rather than billed separately.

Staff told the board these changes would help close a projected $176,000 deficit for 2026 while noting the county currently supplements solid-waste operations with roughly $500,000 a year in levy funds. Commissioners also discussed possible future costs related to proposed state rules (MPCA) that could increase expenses further.

Separately, the board certified delinquent commercial solid-waste fees that will be added to 2026 tax statements with a 10% penalty for unpaid amounts; the delinquent total discussed in the meeting was approximately $13,345 (rolled into a larger total figure discussed in the record). The certification was approved by motion.

Why it matters: the fee changes shift more cost recovery onto fee payers rather than levy dollars and could affect residential bills and commercial parcel owners. The certification of delinquents places unpaid fees on tax statements, potentially increasing tax bills for affected properties.

What’s next: the county auditor will add certified delinquent fees to the 2026 tax statements; staff will implement the new fee coding and notice processes.