KC Solid Waste District Looks At 2021 Tax Rate
By Maggie Kenworthy
InkFreeNews
WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District discussed the 2021 tax rate during a meeting held on Sept. 15.
Kosciusko County Recycling Depot Director Tom Ganser wanted the board to talk about a potential tax rate change. The hope was that the board would have had some sort of idea about what was going to happen with Advanced Disposal and the merger with Green For Life by now.
“It’s an unknown though with the change of ownership of the landfill with Green For Life. There’s no literature or anything out there about whether they’re taking over the hauling companies also,” said Ganser. “You know that their in-county waste (costs) are probably going to stay about the same. But in-state, out-of-county and out-of-state, I have no idea where those numbers are going to fall.”
Ganser explained that the rate won’t change with a new owner, but it’s the volume of what they bring in that would affect the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District. The board could choose to adjust the tax rate higher in anticipation of a change.
“We’ve got plenty of reserves if we have to, so why instead of doom and gloom, why don’t we assume it’s not going to go up, it’s not going to go down?” asked Board President Brad Jackson. “I don’t think we do ‘the sky is falling’ because we don’t know that it’s falling.”
According to County Auditor Michelle Puckett, the current tax rate is the lowest the district can collect at .0001% and that generates between $5,000 and $7,000 per year. But, the district did advertise for the full rate for the 2021 budget.
“We’ve advertised as high as it could be just so you guys had that flexibility, but if you’re good with collecting the lowest tax rate possible, which is what we’re doing for another year, and see where things go,” said Puckett.
Since the tax rate was advertised at the max, the board did not have to take any actions at this point. Once communication is received from GFL, then the rate can be adjusted as the board sees fit during the November, December or January meetings.
The board approved a transfer of $1,000 to occur from the adult/school education fund to the dues and publication fund.
Ganser also announced that the $50,000 roofing project was completed.
The next meeting will be held at the KC Recycling Depot on Tuesday, Oct. 13.