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Council approves Chittenden Solid Waste District FY27 budget after CSWD outlines fraud loss and construction progress
Summary
The council voted to approve CSWD's FY27 budget after CSWD Executive Director Sarah Rees described revenue and expense projections, an approximately $3 million fraud-related shortfall absorbed into reserves, and roughly 80% completion of the Murph materials‑recycling facility.
The South Burlington City Council voted June 1 to approve the Chittenden Solid Waste District’s fiscal 2027 budget after Executive Director Sarah Rees reviewed revenue sources, program priorities and an unexpected fraud loss that has created a funding gap.
Rees told the council that CSWD’s FY27 revenue is projected at $19,255,200 and budgeted expenses at $16,136,738. She said the district does not receive direct local property-tax funding and relies on user fees, material sales, tipping fees and some grants. Rees said a phishing/fraud incident produced a roughly $3,000,000 hit that the district has plugged into its undesignated reserve fund and is addressing by deferring some capital projects, drawing down reserves and considering a short-term loan. "We are approximately 80% through the actual physical construction of the system," Rees said of the new materials-recycling facility (the "Murph"), adding that equipment installation is slated to start in August.
The presentation covered organics diversion (CSWD cited nearly 31,000 tons of organics landfilled last year in Chittenden County), business and multifamily outreach efforts, and the district’s plan to introduce a facility-use fee to shore up drop-off center capital reserves. Councilors asked detailed questions about commodity markets, disposal and organics fees, and the potential for illegal dumping when fees change. After discussion the council moved, seconded and approved the FY27 budget as presented.
