Tulare County approves modest landfill tipping fee increase as Visalia expansion planned

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors voted to approve an incremental increase in landfill tipping fees, part of a planned six‑step adjustment schedule, and heard a presentation on a multi‑phase Visalia Landfill expansion.

Guillermo Hermoso, fiscal manager for Solid Waste, asked the board to approve raising the tipping rate from $35 to $36 as the second of six proposed adjustments. Hermoso told supervisors the Visalia Landfill expansion program and associated work across sites amount to about $42,000,000 in capital expenditures across upcoming construction cycles. Staff projected the new fee would take effect July 1, 2026.

Hermoso said the county's forecasted cash balance for 2026 remains near $40,000,000 and that staff believe the fiscal model supports the construction schedule. "This is just a brief summary of the projects we have coming up," Hermoso said as he outlined timing for bids, CQA contract awards and a projected 12‑month timeline from contract award to cell readiness.

Supervisors asked how Tulare's fees compare with neighboring counties; Hermoso said the county remains cheaper than some neighboring systems but that population differences affect per‑capita cost distribution. Supervisor Macari noted state recycling mandates and expanded services — for example, mattress and tire disposal — raise local operational costs that are passed through to ratepayers.

With no public comment, Supervisor McCarrie moved and Supervisor Townsend seconded approval of the fee schedule adjustment. The board approved the change by a 4‑0 voice vote, with Supervisor Valero absent. The fee increase is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2026, and staff said they will return with contract documents and bid recommendations for the Visalia cell project in the spring.