The Pasco County Commission unanimously approved increased solid waste fees and maintained the status quo for stormwater rates during the board’s Sept. 15 meeting.
Justin Roessler, the county’s solid waste director, told the board that the proposed increase represents the third of a seven-year rate increase in the county’s solid waste assessment.
The adopted resolution establishes the annual solid waste disposal assessment, tipping fees, and other rates, fees and charges that fund the Solid Waste Disposal and Resource Recovery System.
The assessment generates revenue to cover operations and maintenance costs, meet debt service coverage as required by bond covenants, and supports the capital costs of the county’s solid waste disposal system.
The fiscal year 2022 single-family residential assessment will increase by $7, going from $79 to $86 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). A single-family parcel is equal to an ERU.
Tipping fees will increase from $72.08 to $78.47 per ton.
“The rate increases have been structured to address the growth that we’re seeing and the need to expand the waste energy facility, as well as to replace some of the revenue that’s being lost when the power purchasing agreement expires in 2024,” the solid waste director said.
“When you look at the residential assessment and the residential collection ceiling for Pasco County, we do see it as comparable with other municipalities that do have waste-to-energy facilities.”
The board also passed a stormwater rate resolution that keeps the residential rate per ERU at $95, the same as it is this year.
Published September 29, 2021
