While spending is rising in Bartholomew County government next year, the folks who handle most local refuse and recycling programs actually plan to cut their expenditures.
The Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District (SWMD) is requesting $3.46 million in 2020.
“That’s just shy of a half-million dollars less than what was spent this year,” SWMD executive director Heather Siesel told the county council during their Sept. 10 meeting.
While the district has renewed their contract for landfill services, most prices and user fees will remain the same as this year. Siesel said.
But the largest factor is the 13% increase in expenses the SWMD requested a year ago in order to pay for this year’s first landfill cell closures. In contrast, there won’t be any large projects next year, as another landfill cell construction isn’t expected until 2022, Siesel said.
In addition, it’s now estimated the existing landfill on County Road 450S still has about 80 years of life, the SWMD director said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
