Starting in the fall, landfill volumes in Flathead County could increase by 15%.
Landfill fees have not been increased since 2007. A proposal to be presented to county commissioners calls for fees to be increased by the initial percentage starting Nov. 1 and then by 3% annually through 2028.
On August 20, county commissioners will hold a public hearing on the fee increase at 9:15 a.m. Commissioners will meet at the historic courthouse, 800 S. Main St. in Kalispell.
The fee increase is necessary to cover increased operating costs, such as rising labor costs, improvements to container parking spaces and investments in expanding the landfill, the district said.
The landfill fee would increase from $31.05 per ton to $80.73. The annual disposal fee would increase from $80.73 per residential unit to $92.84.
The county’s Waste Management District generates revenue through a combination of landfill fees, assessment fees and special service area fees. Commercial waste collectors, businesses and residents with large loads pay the landfill fee. Residential households pay an assessment fee per unit per year.
The fee increase was recommended by MSW Consultants in a disposal fee study prepared for the county in June. The consultants’ study found that the county’s solid waste district will soon need to make significant investments.
And the district’s analysis found: “If current fees are not adjusted, the district’s actual cash reserves are likely to fall significantly below the amount needed to adequately fund ongoing operations and planned capital expenditures.”
The district projects spending to increase by about 10% in fiscal year 2025, followed by more moderate increases in subsequent years.
However, the district expects capital expenditures of approximately $28.7 million between fiscal year 2025 and fiscal year 2029. The largest expenditures are expected to be for the $17 million line extension project in fiscal years 2028 and 2029.
The landfill fee would be $40.19 in the final year of the proposed increase, about $10 more than the current fee. The residential tax would be $104.49 in the final year of the plan, an increase of nearly $24.
Deputy Editor Heidi Desch can be reached at 758-4421 or [email protected].
