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Newton County SWMA approves FY2027 budget, raises tipping fee to $66 per ton
Summary
The Newton County Solid Waste Management Authority approved the FY2027 budget on May 14, adopting a $66-per-ton tipping fee and a $185 annual hang-tag for residents to support landfill cell construction, equipment replacement and debt obligations.
The Newton County Solid Waste Management Authority approved its FY2027 budget on May 14 and set a landfill tipping fee of $66 per ton and an annual residential hang-tag fee of $185.
Solid Waste Manager Matt Dolan presented a PowerPoint outlining the budget drivers, including upcoming landfill cell construction (cells 8B, 8C and 7), long-term debt obligations, rising operational and equipment costs, and the recent addition of Keep Newton Beautiful. Dolan said the proposed fee increases were intended to preserve financial stability and fund capital equipment replacement; he estimated a $5 increase in the hang-tag would yield about $30,000 annually while a $1 per-ton rise in the tipping fee would generate roughly $100,000.
Authority members debated the balance between resident affordability and revenue needs. Chairman W. Kent Campbell proposed the $66 tipping fee and keeping the hang-tag at $185; Mr. Phillip Wise supported the approach, saying hang-tags remain “the best deal for Newton County residents.” Interim Commissioner Andre Cooper and other members approved the fee changes by unanimous vote.
Ms. Linda Hanna moved to approve the FY2027 budget pending adjustments to reflect the newly approved fees; the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Dolan said he will circulate the amended budget to Authority members.
The Authority also reviewed operational statistics supporting the budget: paid inbound volume averaged 331 tons per day in April (about 10 tons higher than the prior month), unpaid convenience-center tonnage averaged about 35 tons per day, and the Georgia Fund One balance was reported at $12,574,993. Dolan said annual hang-tag sales are expected to be 5,800–6,000 and that moving the sales office to the Cousins Center and re-opening the Cook Road Convenience Center should increase sales.
Next steps: the Authority approved the budget with the condition that the final document reflect the approved FY2027 fee changes. The budget will be filed per County procedures for implementation in the new fiscal year.
