Waste district slashes its budget

The budget has been cut.

But deficit spending is still expected next year.

Jay County Solid Waste Management District’s board made significant cuts to its proposed 2019 budget Monday before approving it to be sent to Jay County Council for its review.

The initial budget proposal came in at $375,215, an increase of nearly $20,000 from the current year despite the elimination of a $30,000 line item for the purchase of a new truck. That number represented a budget that had nearly doubled from $189,810 in 2013.

Following cuts approved Monday, that budget has been trimmed to $311,881 (nearly 17 percent from the original proposal).

Even with those reductions, the district projects deficit spending of more than $70,000 because of an expected decrease in income from dumping at the landfill. Income from tipping fees is projected to be down about $60,000.

Board president Randy Geesaman, vice president Chuck Huffman and district director Samantha Rhodehamel were tasked last month with reviewing the budget and suggesting cuts. They returned to the full board with some cuts already agreed upon — 2-percent raises for staff instead of 3 percent, a $4,000 reduction in advertising, the elimination of the billboard art contest ($2,197.05) and a $1,000 reduction in telephone/internet — and others for the board to review.

The greatest amount of discussion came on the $10,000 grant to the City of Portland to help support its curbside recycling program.

Geesaman, Portland’s mayor, advocated for keeping the grant in place. He noted that while the city’s user fee for recycling covers its costs this year, it will no longer do so under new contracts beginning in April 2019. He said he feels it would not be fair to pass that cost on to city residents after already instituting annual sewer-rate increases through 2021.

Board member Barry Hudson argued that in the face of the district’s increasing costs, the grant should be eliminated. He questioned the wisdom of the waste district supporting a program that is used by less than half of Portland’s residents.

The board ultimately sided with Hudson on a 5-2 vote, with Mike Leonhard, Gene Ritter, Jeanne Houchins and Huffman joining him. Bill Gibson, who serves on Portland City Council, and Geesaman voted against eliminating the grant.

Board members voted unanimously to eliminate a $12,000 grant to Arts Place after Jay County Commissioners decided earlier in the day to provide the funding for the summer Arts in the Parks program.

The board also agreed to reduce the amount paid to service groups that work at weekend recycling trailers to $125 from the previous $150. The annual bonus amount, which was clarified to be on tonnage increased from the previous year rather than the total, was set at one-half percent.

The only cut the board rejected, unanimously, was the removal of a $10,000 grant to Jay County Soil and Water Conservation District. Solid waste district educator Bettie Jacobs, who also works for the soil and water conservation district, explained that that grant originated because the two organizations work toward common goals, including eliminating pollution from entering waterways.

In other business, the board:

•Paid claims totaling $20,613.10. The district brought in $18,934.23 in tipping fees on 10,819.56 tons dumped at Jay County Landfill in July. The district has a total balance, including investments, of $415,671.21.

•Learned that about 6,500 books from the former Pennville Elementary School were given new homes. The solid waste district offered the books for free to the public this summer following the closing of the Pennville building last year. “That was really a great thing,” said Jacobs.

•Heard from Jacobs that she will have a booth at Jay County Historical Society’s Heritage Festival on Sept. 22 and 23.

•Was reminded that a free shredding day is slated for Sept. 21, free landfill day for Sept. 22 and Tox Away Day for Oct. 6.

•Agreed to invest $100,000 in a certificate of deposit with First Merchants Bank for 12 months at an interest rate of 2.199 percent, which was the best rate offer the district received. (Huffman, who works for First Merchants, abstained from the vote.)

•Discussed issues with residents leaving trash and televisions at the Dunkirk recycling trailer. A suggestion was made that the trailer not be left at the site full-time, but the board tabled a decision on the matter in an effort to allow time to find another solution. 

•Welcomed Houchins back to the board as Jay County Council’s representative. She takes over for Bob Vance, who left council last month because he is moving out of the county.