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Solid‑waste staff warn of $1M shortfall; HB 555 will add annual fees and tonnage charges starting July 1
Summary
Solid‑waste staff reported operational budget shortfalls, aging equipment risks, and upcoming state changes (HB 555) that will require counties to pay $4,000 per facility annually and eventually a $0.07/ton fee to DEQ; the board asked staff to refine budget projections and options.
Solid‑waste staff presented operational and budget concerns and briefed the board on HB 555, a state change that will shift permitting and oversight responsibilities to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and impose new fees on counties.
Staff said the landfill operation is projected to be roughly $1,000,000 short of its actual operating costs if current fee and tax revenues remain unchanged. They flagged rising maintenance and replacement expenses for heavy equipment including a scraper that will soon require significant investment. At the statewide level, staff described HB 555, effective July 1, which will require counties that operate open solid‑waste facilities to pay $4,000 per facility annually and ultimately a $0.07 per ton fee; DEQ would assume permitting responsibilities previously handled by health departments unless local agreements remain. "It will require counties that have open solid waste facilities to pay a $4,000 per facility fee yearly," staff said.
Commissioners asked staff to develop more detailed operating, replacement and revenue scenarios for the next budget cycle, explore options for temporary equipment support (contracted scrapers), and follow up on how the new DEQ fees will be administered and collected.
