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Budget committee approves $2.75 million solid-waste budget, plans landfill closure and truck purchase
Summary
Claiborne County's Budget Committee approved a $2,748,317 draft solid-waste budget that funds landfill closure work, new site engineering and a replacement garbage truck, with staff estimating $150,000 for closure and a three-year note for the truck.
The Claiborne County Budget Committee approved a $2,748,317 draft budget for Fund 116 (Solid Waste) on March 19, 2024, funding landfill closure work, site development for a new Class 3 landfill and a requested replacement garbage truck.
Finance Director Eric Pearson said the Solid Waste budget increase reflects higher medical and vehicle/equipment insurance, workers’ compensation, site development and waste-disposal costs. Sanitation Foreman MaKenley Barker told the committee the landfill has aging equipment and requested a replacement garbage truck in the FY2024–25 capital plan.
Pearson outlined a near-term financing approach: staff estimated a three-year capital outlay note for the truck that would add roughly $421,200 in near-term debt-service cost. He also said the closure of the current landfill is underway with Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) review and that engineering work for a new site is underway with Hatfield & Allen. Estimated costs noted in the presentation included about $150,000 for current-site closure and $150,000–$200,000 to open the new landfill site; exact amounts will depend on engineering and permitting.
Jimmy Estep III answered a committee question about outside funding, saying historically there have been no grant programs available to pay for landfill equipment. The Solid Waste Board has recently raised tipping fees, which Pearson said helped reduce the volume of out-of-county waste coming into Claiborne County.
On a motion by Dustin Wilson, seconded by Quinton Rogers, the committee approved the Fund 116 budget as drafted by roll call (the committee recorded the motion and approved the draft). The committee directed staff to continue coordination with TDEC and Hatfield & Allen and to include the truck-financing plan in debt-service projections.
The committee will monitor final engineering estimates and related debt-service impacts as the budget proceeds to the full County Commission.
