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Solid‑waste study proposes staged rate increases, commissioners weigh impacts on low‑income residents
Summary
A county rate study offered two scenarios to close a solid‑waste funding gap and establish recycling services: a slower staggered $24 increase or a faster staggered $50 increase; staff proposed the larger $50 approach to reach solvency sooner but commissioners and the public expressed concern for fixed‑income residents and collection compliance.
Taos County Public Works presented a rate study prepared by NewGen that identifies a funding shortfall for the solid‑waste program and proposes two scenarios to achieve solvency and create a reserve for capital replacement and recycling services.
Scenario 1 would apply a $24 annual increase staged through 2028; Scenario 2 would stage $50 increases in larger steps and reach the study's target sooner. Jason Silva, presenting the study, said the analysis would create roughly $175,000 per year for a reserve to replace trucks and roll‑offs and to fund recycling operations. "That's what I would propose to do," Silva said in support of the $50 scenario, explaining the county's current collection fees are among the lowest in the state for a geographically large jurisdiction.
Commissioners and members of the public asked detailed questions about historical fee changes (staff referenced past adjustments), collection rates (staff cited a roughly 57% collection rate), the impact on disabled or fixed‑income residents (the county currently applies a significant discount for some disability claims that staff said must be revised to comply with anti‑donation law), and the administrative capacity to implement new billing and lien processes. Several commissioners emphasized outreach and education before implementation; others urged separating the recycling fee from general rate increases to study recycling participation and costs further.
What happens next: staff will refine the resolution language and return with a draft resolution for adoption at a later meeting; commissioners signaled preference for the faster scenario but asked staff to address equity and outreach concerns.
