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.
While overall spending will be down, the district’s 2020 budget does include some line-item increases, such as a 3% raise for all employees combined with what’s being called “loyalty pay.” At a cost of $5,950 next year, a full-time SWMD employee would receive $50 per year of service during the first week of December that would be capped at $1,000 after 20 years of service.
In response, the longest-serving count council member, Evelyn Pence, stressed she does not support either loyalty or longevity pay anywhere in county government. In addition, Pence also expressed her worry that an economic downturn may be on the horizon.
“A lot of pensions are reliant on a good stock market, and everyone is investing,” Pence said. “I’m fearful of what might be coming down the road, so I can’t vote for (loyalty pay).”
But that was the only objection voiced for other personnel-related line item increases for the district. Other hikes includes larger pension contributions and increasing overtime by $1,000. In total, the district anticipates a $37,435 increase in personnel-related expenses next year, bringing the total to $1.1 million, Siesel said.
Contracts that will allow drop-off convenience sites in both Petersville and Harrison to continue operating are expected to cost $7,000 more next year, the district director said. There will also be a slight increase in funds set aside for repairs and maintenance, Siesel said.
Other expense increases include:
New roofs needed at two solid waste district buildings.
Linking the landfill operations to the county’s information technology department.
A slight jump in insurance liability.
Higher utility costs.
Systems that control liquid that leaches from landfills.
Costs that followed upgrades at the former Petersville landfill.
But since the bottom line is that less money is being requested for next year, the SWDA budget received initial approval on a 6-1 vote. Due to her objection to loyalty pay, Pence cast the only negative vote on the budget.
The final vote on the 2020 spending plan will take place during next month’s regular council meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 8. The council chambers are on the fourth floor of the Bartholomew County Governmental Office building at the corner of Third and Franklin streets.
