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Counties urge modest solid‑waste tax increase to stabilize services
Summary
HB 2018 would raise the state's solid‑waste excise tax by 0.5 percentage points annually for five years (to 6.1% in 2030) and create a Local Government Solid Waste Assistance Account for county and city use. County officials and solid‑waste managers testified that transportation and disposal‑contract costs have risen sharply and current funding is insufficient.
House staff briefed the committee that HB 20 18 would raise the solid‑waste collection excise tax by 0.5 percentage points each year for five years, reaching 6.1% in 2030, and deposit the revenue into a new Local Government Solid Waste Assistance Account for distribution to eligible counties and cities. Funds would be distributed with 50% shared equally among counties and 50% distributed per capita; counties must use the revenue to implement solid‑waste management plans and will report annually for eligibility verification.
County representatives told the committee they face shrinking revenue tied to landfill diversion and sharply higher transport and contract costs. Skagit County solid‑waste manager Margo Gillespie said Skagit residents saw a 30% fee increase in 2024 driven largely by a 40% rise in long‑haul transportation costs and aging infrastructure. Paul Jewell of the Washington State Association of Counties said the proposal would modernize revenue streams for critical services that protect human safety.
Staff said the bill's preliminary Department of Revenue estimate shows no general‑fund impact and projected generation of roughly $4 million in the current biennium and $44 million in the next biennium; committee members asked follow‑up questions about existing local B&O authority, the purpose of the new account, and whether local governments can already levy similar taxes.
The committee closed public testimony and suspended action pending staff follow‑up; no committee vote occurred on Jan. 30.
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