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Lincoln County delays vote on proposed landfill fee hike after public concern about assessment scope
Summary
At an Aug. 13 public hearing, commissioners heard a proposed landfill fee schedule that would set a $200 annual residential refuge assessment with 2.5% annual escalation for five years; commissioners postponed the vote one week to determine whether the assessment can apply to undeveloped parcels.
Mr. Hammonds read Resolution 2025-26, which would adopt a revised Lincoln County landfill fee schedule and set a residential refuge assessment at $200 beginning in fiscal year 2025–26 with a 2.5% annual escalation for five years.
The resolution cites Montana code sections including MCA 7-1-2103, MCA 7-6-412 and MCA 7-6-414 as authority and lists specific proposed changes to per-load and per-cubic-yard charges (examples cited in the hearing: general materials from $8 to $12 per cubic yard; unsorted-load penalties rising; asbestos, tire and uncovered-load charges adjusted). Mr. Hammonds read that the changes would take effect Oct. 1, 2025, and directed the health department to implement public-notice steps.
During public comment a resident relayed feedback from a community meeting raising a central concern: whether the annual refuge assessment must be limited to developed properties or could be applied more broadly. "They were concerned about that over the five-year period," the public commenter said, explaining attendees think undeveloped parcels that may later be built upon benefit from maintaining landfill infrastructure and should share in the cost.
Commissioners noted the county’s current practice of adding a refuge assessment when a dwelling is 50% or more complete, and several asked staff to confirm statutory and administrative rules before adopting a broader assessment base. One commissioner asked to postpone to research whether assessment codes permit applying the fee to undeveloped parcels. The board agreed to postpone the vote for one week so staff can report back and the resolution can return on next week’s agenda.
Because the board postponed rather than adopted the resolution, the proposed fee increases are not yet in effect; staff said the public will have another opportunity to comment when the board resumes the matter.
What happens next: county staff will investigate the legal applicability of assessment codes to undeveloped parcels and provide findings to the board; the public hearing record remains open until the board takes formal action on the resolution.
