DeKalb officials propose two 15% sanitation increases, cite landfill expansion and a $21M bridging loan

County consultants told a town‑hall audience that DeKalb’s solid‑waste fund has run persistent deficits and will need elevated rates, landfill cell expansion and capital replacement to remain self‑sustaining.

“Solid waste is an enterprise fund… it operates as a business,” consultant Robert Riyle (Arcadus) said. He told the board the fund has run a deficit for about five years and, without additional revenue, would face what the presentation characterized as an unsustainable outcome — a modeled shortfall in the hundreds of millions over 10 years.

Capital need: Riyle said landfill cell expansion is critical and estimated the cell expansion program at roughly $126 million over the next 10 years. Additional needs — transfer station work and other non‑landfill capital — were presented at about $84 million, with vehicle replacement and equipment at $120 million; the consultant’s 10‑year total figure was approximately $330 million.

Proposed rate path and loan: the consultant proposed two 15% increases (2026 and 2027) followed by annual 10% increases thereafter; he estimated the first 15% increase would raise a typical residential bill by about $47 a year (roughly $4 monthly) and recommended a $21 million general‑fund loan to bridge near‑term operating and capital cash needs while the fund recovers.

Tipping and tire fees: the presentation recommended revising tipping‑fee scales (for small residential drop‑offs vs larger loads) and adjusting tire fees that had previously jumped (from $1 to $12), a hike that staff said reduced legal drop‑offs and likely increased illegal dumping; staff proposed a lower $3.50 fee for standard passenger tires and higher fees for large tires and rims.

Composting and diversion: commissioners and staff highlighted a successful curbside composting pilot in one city (Aendale Estates) and discussed potential county composting facilities and incentives for municipal partners; staff said air‑quality permits at the landfill will shape timing for any on‑site compost facility.

Resident concerns and operations: residents urged per‑household equity (charging by bin or by usage), expanded recycling education, and protections for low‑income and senior households. Director McKenna outlined operational changes (route optimization software, telematics and retraining) intended to improve efficiency. Commissioners asked staff for fiscal analyses of senior exemptions, maps of proposed landfill cell locations and follow‑up responses to public questions.

Next steps: staff committed to written responses and to return data to the Public Works & Infrastructure committee; commissioners did not vote on rate approvals at the town‑hall.

Quotes: Riyle said, “the solid waste fund has been running a deficit for the past 5 years,” and later summarized the landfill cell expansion number as about $126 million over the next decade.