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Board hears concerns about landfill financing and out-of-county trash subsidization
Summary
After a landfill tour, public works outlined options to finance roughly $20 million cell construction, saying the bond would be paid from the enterprise fund; board members warned that using general-fund support could expose Steuben County residents to costs if outside trash is accepted without full cost recovery.
Board members reported on a recent landfill tour and followed with questions about backup leachate-treatment capacity and financial planning for new cell construction. Public works said bids for the two upcoming cells came in near $20,000,000 and that cash-flowing that work at current rates would be difficult.
A county staff member explained the bond "would be paid wholly out of the enterprise fund," though staff are modeling whether to use some enterprise cash to lower the borrowing amount or to draw on the general fund to reduce the bond. One board member warned, "you're bringing in trash from outside the county... now the Steuben County residents are helping pay for whoever else's garbage if that garbage isn't covering the cost," and said he favored raising rates if needed to keep the landfill self-supporting. Staff said they are modeling rate increases for 2027 and beyond.
No formal financing decision was taken; the board discussed options and emphasized the importance of keeping operating costs within the enterprise fund when possible.
