Sanders County considers solid waste tax hike

Sanders County commissioners held a public meeting Aug. 26 to discuss a proposed increase in the solid waste assessment that funds the county's six solid waste facilities.

The current solid waste assessment, which appears on property tax bills, is $160 per year. Under the proposal, the fee would increase to $225 annually, followed by a 3% increase each year for the next five years. If approved, the fee would reach approximately $260.08 by 2031. The last increase to the solid waste assessment occurred in 2019, when rates increased by 28%.

The county's solid waste division operates as an enterprise fund and is subject to Montana Code Annotated 17-2-102, which states that enterprise funds are operated similarly to private businesses, with costs primarily financed or recovered through user fees and charges rather than general tax revenue.

Sanders County's solid waste department employs 14 people, including seven full-time employees, six part-time employees and one temporary employee. Those positions include one supervisor, four truck drivers, eight attendants and one laborer. The department represents approximately 10% of the county's workforce.

According to information reviewed during the meeting, expenditures exceeded revenues in five of the past six years. As a result, the county transferred money from the general fund to cover operating expenses, reducing cash reserves.

County officials said growth in Sanders County has led to increased waste disposal. Since 2019, the amount of waste hauled to the Missoula landfill has increased by an average of approximately 1,000 tons per year.

Commissioners also reviewed solid waste fee structures in neighboring counties. Lincoln County charges $200 annually and includes a 2.5% yearly increase over a five-year period. Mineral County operates under a private subscription system and does not levy a solid waste assessment on property taxes. Residents there pay between $460 and $560 annually for service. Lake County charges taxpayers $180 per year or offers a pay-as-you-go option at $10 per cubic yard.

County Commissioner Tony Cox discussed several potential cost-saving measures, including expanding recycling efforts at county facilities, particularly for beverage containers, scrap metal and cardboard. Responding to public comments about broadening recycling opportunities to include additional materials such as glass, Cox said current beverage container and cardboard recycling programs are only breaking even financially.

Cox also addressed the possibility of the county developing its own landfill.

"That is a very expensive process because it would require a large plot of land that we would have to buy and clear-cut, and I doubt there are too many of us in here who would love the thought of having a landfill next door as a neighbor," Cox said.

Commissioner Dan Rowan commented on rising costs throughout county government, including health insurance, fuel and equipment expenses.

"We all intuitively know that costs keep going up," Rowan said.

Bob Abel, who is running against Cox for the District 3 commissioner seat, expressed support for the proposal but questioned the automatic annual increases.

"My concern is that I like the plan. It is a very good plan and a very workable plan. The fly in the ointment is the automatic increase," Abel said. "I would like you guys to take a look at it every year and vote that increase one way or another."

Abel also suggested exploring grant opportunities to help offset costs.

"Maybe we could take a look or get a grant to get our own landfill, thereby reducing our transportation costs," he said.

Cox responded that operating a landfill would be significantly more expensive than maintaining the county's current transfer station system.

Due to several procedural issues identified during the Aug. 26 meeting, the county will hold another public meeting on the proposed solid waste assessment increase in late September. As of the meeting, a specific date had not yet been announced.