Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Service to establish an encumbrance within the General Fund’s Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund to pay 2026 waste disposal tipping fees for the Division of Refuse Collection and to expend funds to pay the tipping fees. This expense is necessary to safely and contractually dispose of the waste collected by the division in the course of pursuing its mission by providing residential refuse collection services to over 358,000 households weekly and picking up bulk items and illegally dumped items as needed.
The Department of Public Service has determined that $14,500,000.00 should be adequate for this purpose. This number is based upon an estimated waste stream of 305,000 tons in 2026. Actual tonnage is ultimately dependent on variables such as the weather, the actual number of households collected that cannot be specifically calculated at this time, and the unknown amount of bulk and illegally dumped items. If necessary, additional legislation will be submitted to increase funds at a later date.
SWACO tipping fee rates are determined by SWACO's established rate-setting process. Due to an existing contractual relationship where the City of Columbus participates in the rate-setting process, the City is required to use SWACO waste disposal services.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for this has been allocated within the General Fund’s Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund in the amount of $14,500,000.00. Funds in ITSA will need appropriated.
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to avoid delays of payment to SWACO that could result in the city incurring interest and penalties as specified within the contract.
Title
To authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $14,500,000.00 or so much thereof as may be necessary from the General Fund’s Income Tax Set Aside (ITSA) Subfund to pay 2026 waste disposal tipping fees for the Division of Refuse Collection; to auth...
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