Section 21-229 of the Billings Montana City Code requires that the City Council adopt the Solid Waste collection and disposal charges by resolution annually.  The Solid Waste rate and fee structure was previously approved as a three year incremental rate adjustment by Council on June 8, 2009.  Fiscal year 2012 is the third and final year of that rate adjustment.  However, Staff determined that the rate adjustment needed to meet operating, maintenance, and capital requirements is less than the previously approved rate adjustment for FY 2012.   The revised rate schedules increase collection and landfill fees by an average of 5% over FY 11 rates.  The attached resolution sets landfill fee and collection rates for fiscal year 2012.

The Council must hold a public hearing and then may:

Approve the resolution setting Solid Waste collection, disposal, and landfill fees for FY 2012; or
Not approve the resolution setting Solid Waste collection, disposal, and landfill fees for FY 2012.

The estimated increase in revenue from the rate and fee increases is $425,000 for FY 2012.

Staff recommends that a public hearing be held and City Council approve the proposed resolution assessing collection, disposal, and landfill fees for FY 2012.