Cowlitz County hears detailed solid waste fund and closure‑fund balances

County staff presented a line-by-line review of the solid waste maintenance fund (40801) and the capital reserve fund (40802). "On the revenue side, year to date, we're at just shy of $48,000 of a $180,000 budget for intergovernmental. This is going to be Department of Ecology grants," staff said while noting goods-and-services and interest earnings lines. The maintenance fund current cash balance was cited at about $10,244,000.

Staff also described the capital reserve (40802) where interest and used-equipment sales are revenue sources and reported current capital expenditures of roughly $2.7 million of a $3.5 million budget and a cash balance near $19.6 million. Commissioners pressed how costs for the transfer station are shown; staff explained transfer station revenues are commingled with headquarters landfill activity and that services spending includes waste-control contracts, third-party disposals and related internal services.

The board heard that transfers out support capital equipment purchases and closure/post-closure liabilities: the unlined landfill closure fund was cited near $950,000, the lined landfill about $8.8 million, the headquarters closure fund about $28.7 million and post-closure about $10.1 million.