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Transylvania County reviews solid waste funding, consultant suggests parcel or availability fee
Summary
Staff reported the Solid Waste Enterprise Fund will need General Fund support ($720,000 budgeted) and consultants recommended eliminating bag fees in favor of an availability fee with tipping fees and exploring transfer-station models; staff will hold community meetings during FY 2027.
County staff presented a Solid Waste Enterprise Fund summary showing the FY 2027 recommended budget at roughly $4.1 million and continued dependence on a General Fund subsidy. The manager said the fund’s revenue growth is expected to be limited and staff budgeted a $720,000 property tax subsidy for solid waste operations.
Consultants advised eliminating bag fees and moving to an availability fee combined with tipping fees, and recommended evaluating a transfer station model rather than constructing additional landfill cells. The manager said staff will conduct a series of public meetings during FY 2027 to gather community input on future funding and disposal options.
Commissioners discussed prior proposals and public response. Chairwoman Teresa McCall and Commissioner Chase McKelvey recalled earlier debates over parcel-based solid waste fees and sticker fees: manager-level analysis showed parcel fees in prior proposals of about $125–$130 per improved parcel at the low end, which in staff analysis would have been less than the cost of one weekly trash bag sticker under the then-current system.
Commissioners asked staff to continue refining options and emphasized the need for robust community engagement before any fee changes. The manager noted that, given Transylvania County’s limited scale, options to significantly increase fee revenue are constrained and that modest fee increases were estimated to yield small dollar gains relative to the overall budget.
