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DeSoto Parish considers cutting compactor-site hours to offset falling solid-waste revenue
Summary
Staff presented alternative compactor-site schedules after projecting a multi-hundred-thousand-dollar reduction in solid-waste millage revenue; options include closing sites on Sundays or moving lower-volume sites to a Monday/Wednesday/Friday schedule with Saturday service.
DeSoto Parish staff told jurors they are exploring changes to compactor-site hours to reduce payroll and hauling costs after projecting substantial solid-waste revenue declines. A staff presenter outlined two alternate schedules and said the parish faces an estimated shortfall tied to assessed-value changes and a recent tax rollback: "Next year, at the 5.46 millage rate… the solid waste millage is gonna lose about $133,000," the presenter said, adding that in another scenario the loss could reach roughly $391,000.
Staff described cost-per-ton disparities and site-level tonnage: Stonewall generated about 2,964 tons in 2024 and is one of the busiest sites, while some small sites produced under 75 tons, making per-ton costs high—Benson was cited at $489.63 per ton in staff calculations. To save payroll and hauling expense, staff proposed options such as closing compactor sites on Sundays, or placing low-tonnage sites on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday plus Saturday schedule. "If you did nothing else and you just cut a couple hours out of each site… you would save some money," the presenter said.
Jurors weighed worker safety, constituent convenience, and holiday scheduling. Several jurors supported closing Sunday service and unifying hours across sites; others warned that some rural residents rely on local sites and that changes will prompt constituent calls. Jurors also raised staff-safety issues about evening hours and suggested staggered hours at low-volume locations to reduce pay while maintaining access. The presenter agreed to draft two or three alternate schedules—one that closes all sites on Sunday and another that moves low-tonnage sites to a reduced (M/W/F + Saturday) schedule—and bring them back to the jury for formal consideration in October, with actual adoption timed to new compactor-site openings and budget considerations.
The workshop did not adopt new hours. Instead, staff will return with specific proposals and supporting tonnage and cost data to enable jurors to weigh savings against service and equity concerns.
