Staff recommends that the City Council conduct a public hearing and approve the resolution adopting collection, disposal, and landfill fees effective July 1, 2025.

Pursuant to Section 21-229 of the Billings Municipal Code (BMCC), the City Council is required to adopt the Solid Waste collection and disposal charges, as well as landfill fees, on an annual basis through resolution. The current rates and fees are insufficient to cover the operational, maintenance, and capital investment needs necessary to maintain services at their current levels.

Discussions regarding solid waste and landfill fees were held with the Council Budget and Finance Committee on March 26 and April 9, 2025, and with the City Council during the April 21 work session meeting. During these discussions, the Council expressed its intent to avoid increasing residential collection fees and to balance funding needs through adjustments to commercial collection, roll-off, and landfill fees.

Based on this guidance from City Council, staff is proposing the following rate and fee adjustments for Fiscal Year 2026:

• 0% increase in residential collection fees;
• 4% increase in commercial collection fees;
• 6.1% increase in dropbox/roll-off collection rates;
• 14.6% increase in landfill fees.

The attached resolution specifies the proposed rates and fees for FY26. A public hearing is required, and if the proposed resolution is approved, rates will be effective July 1, 2025.

City Council may:

• Approve the recommended resolution; or,
• Not approve the resolution. If Council does not approve the resolution, an amended resolution to establish Solid Waste fees for FY26 will need to be considered at a future City Council meeting. 

The proposed rate and fee adjustments will generate approximately $1.4 million in revenue for the solid waste fund in FY26.