Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newton County SWMA proposes higher tipping fee, new landfill cells and authorizes dozer purchase
Summary
At its April 9 meeting the Newton County Solid Waste Management Authority discussed a draft FY2027 budget that proposes raising the landfill tipping fee from $62 to $65 per ton, plans new landfill cells with estimated multi‑million dollar costs, and authorized purchase of a D8 bulldozer using FY2026 funds.
The Newton County Solid Waste Management Authority on April 9 considered a draft FY2027 budget that would raise the landfill tipping fee from $62 to $65 per ton and include multiple capital projects and equipment purchases. Solid Waste Director Matt Dolan presented the budget and long-range landfill plan, noting current regional average tipping fees and the authority’s outstanding loans.
Dolan told members the authority faces several large capital needs, including construction of a new small landfill cell (estimated cost about $7.5 million and expected to last roughly 2.25 years). He described an alternative to build cells 8B, 8C and 7 together at an estimated combined cost of about $20 million, which he said could save more than $3 million compared with separate projects. Dolan identified available financing from the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), noting a 3% interest rate that reflects a 1% WaterFirst reduction.
Dolan also presented the authority’s debt obligations, including a 2017 GEFA loan (about $1.81 million, payoff estimated 2042), a 2024 GEFA loan (about $4.53 million, payoff estimated 2043) and 2017 bonds (taxable and tax-exempt tranches totaling about $21.1 million, payoff estimated 2043). He listed proposed FY2027 expenditures that include Tier II sampling, a new landfill entrance gate, replacement vehicles, and funding to begin Cell 8B construction.
After discussion about timing and funding sources, the board voted to authorize Director Dolan to negotiate and purchase a D8 bulldozer using FY2026 budget funds rather than waiting for FY2027 appropriations. The motion to authorize the purchase was moved by Linda Hanna and seconded by Stan Edwards and passed unanimously.
The authority’s budget schedule calls for a final draft and proposed approval at the May regular meeting; the broader Solid Waste Management Plan update is scheduled for Board of Commissioners consideration on June 16.
Next steps: staff will finalize budget documents for the May meeting and return with specific financing recommendations for the proposed cell construction.
