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Home My WebLink About21-0420-26R STATE OF WASHINGTON County of Jefferson A Resolution Adopting a Low-Income Discount for Curbside Collection of Garbage and RESOLUTION NO. 21 0420-26R (L; Recyclables • WHEREAS, on November 3, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) adopted a Level of Service Ordinance for curbside recycling, and this was codified in Jefferson County Code, Title 8, Section 8.10.045 Minimal level of service for residential , recycling; and, WHEREAS, the Level of Service Ordinance requires that "the collection company shall provide a low-income discount rate for qualifying residents, with qualifications and process for determining eligibility being mutually agreeable to the collection company and the county"; and, WHEREAS, while the Level of Service Ordinance pertains to recycling services,the collection company, Waste Connections, dba Murrey's Disposal Company, Inc., (Murrey's), would prefer to provide a low-income discount to both recycling and garbage collection services; and, WHEREAS,Public Works staff have worked with Murrey's to develop a process for the provision of this low-income discount;and, WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) provides a discount to its utility customers based on income up to 150% of the Federal poverty line; and, WHEREAS,the PUD has agreed to notify customers approved for its discount utility rates of the availability of a discount for Murrey's curbside garbage and recyclables collection; and, WHEREAS, Murrey's has agreed to provide a discount rate to its residential customers upon receipt of the PUD approval letter; and, WHEREAS, this customer vetting process will safeguard personal information provided to the PUD by its customers while providing both notice of, and barrier free access to, Murrey's discount program; and, WHEREAS, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) has provided guidance on the process for adoption of the low-income discount within the UTC tariff that governs rates for customers within Murrey's service area; and, WHEREAS, Public Works staff and a Murrey's representative met with the BoCC on March 23, 2026, and presented three(3) levels of low-income discount and the forecasted impact to other rate payers in providing this subsidy; and, i q WHEREAS, the BoCC selected the mid-range $10.00 discount rate as the preferred low-income discount to be applied to all types of garbage and recycling collection service options provided by Murrey's NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,STATE OF WASHINGTON: Section 1. Whereas Clauses Adopted as Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the above"Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this resolution is to: Adopt a low-income discount rate of$10.00 within the UTC tariff for the service area of East Jefferson County to be made available to all curbside collection customers who have been approved for the PUD's low-income discount program. Section 3. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause,phrase of this resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this resolution or its application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected. Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution is effective upon UTC rate approval and Tariff revision. Section 5. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This resolution is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800(19). APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of A-p✓I ( ,2026. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF SEAL: COUN Y COMMISSIONERS He r ey-Nollette, District 1 ,,,N , ��.o`sM�sSioti� 2�? Heidi isenhour, District 2 of e on, District 3 WASH '''',,,,,,,,,,,,, , ATTES : APPROVED AS TO FORM: y/zd 2,6 Caro y Gallaway, CM Date Philip C. Hunsucker Date Cler the Board Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney r z WHEREAS, the BoCC selected the mid-range $10.00 discount rate as the preferred low-income discount to be applied to all types of garbage and recycling collection service options provided by Murrey's NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,STATE OF WASHINGTON: Section 1. Whereas Clauses Adopted as Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the above"Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this resolution is to: Adopt a low-income discount rate of$10.00 within the UTC tariff for the service area of East Jefferson County to be made available to all curbside collection customers who have been approved for the PUD's low-income discount program. Section 3. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence,clause,phrase of this resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this resolution or its application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected. Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution is effective upon UTC rate approval and Tariff revision. Section 5. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This resolution is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-1 1-800(19). APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of ,4-p i ( ,2026. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF SEAL: COUN Y COMMISSIONERS He r cy-Nollettc, District 1 RSON \ssi tioG- Hei Isenhour, District 2 JO �' SEAL = o of e on, District 3 -.,°p was\`�,.,,,,`, ATTE : APPROV AS T FORM: r 1 y/2‘, 26 0. C Apri 24,2026 Caro y Gallaway, CM Date Philip C. Hunsucker Date Cler the Board Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Jefferson County Board of Commissioners Consent Agenda Request To: Board of Commissioners Josh Peters,County Administrator From: Eric Kuzma,Public Works Director Agenda Date: April 20,2026 Subject: Curbside Recycling and Garbage Collection Low-Income Discount Statement of Issue:On November 3,2025,the Board of County Commissioners(BoCC)adopted a Level of Service Ordinance(LOS)for curbside recycling,and this was codified in Jefferson County Code, Title 8,Section 8.10.045 Minimal level of service for residential recycling. The LOS requires that "the collection company shall provide a low-income discount rate for qualifying residents,with qualifications and process for determining eligibility being mutually agreeable to the collection company and the county". On March 23,2026, Waste Connections Site Operations Manager Joey Deese and Public Works staff met with the BoCC to discuss the work done in cooperation with the Jefferson County Public Utility District and the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission(UTC)to offer a low-income discount to qualifying residents. Waste connections provided three(3)levels of discounts for BoCC consideration as well as the forecasted rate increases to other curbside customers to provide the subsidy. The BoCC selected a$10 discount which would apply to both residential curbside and recycling collection for all service options. The UTC has indicated that a BoCC Resolution would allow the UTC to begin its work on adopting the low-income discount into the Tariff that governs rates in the East Jefferson County service area. Analysis/Strategic Goals/Pro's&Con's: The attached Resolution is ready for the BoCC's execution. Fiscal Impact/Cost Benefit Analysis: Waste Connections has provided the attached forecasted range of rate increases for curbside customers of between$0.21 and$0.95 per month necessary to provide the subsidy.However,actual rate increases cannot be known until after a minimum three-month period or until the number of qualifying customers is better understood and the UTC can analyze the financial impact on Waste Connections. Recommendation: Adopt the attached Resolution. Department Contact: Al Cairns,Solid Waste Manager x213 Reviewed By: .Josh' eters, County Administrator Date Jefferson County Low Income Rates Analysis Total Annual Estimated Rate Increase To Cover Subsidy Monthly Discount Subsidized 60 Gat 96 Gat 96 Gal Amount Cost 35 Gal Monthly 35 Gal EOW 35 Gal Weekly 60 Gal Monthly 60 Gat EOW Weekly Monthly 96 Gal EOW Weekly $5.00 $30,000 $0.10 $0.17 $0.28 $0.14 $0.20 $0.37 $0.18 $0.27 $0.48 $10.00 $60,000 $0.21 $0.33 $0.57 $0.27 $0.41 $0.73 $0.36 $0.54 $0.95 $15.00 $90,000 $0.31 $0.50 $0.85 $0.41 $0.61 $1.10 $0.54 $0.81 $1.43 Current Monthly Rates $11.33 $18.00 $30.82 $14.63 $21.97 $39.66 $19.26 $29.33 $52.28 Customer Count 101 843 1,226 51 1,024 1,041 13 315 382 *This analysis assumes 500 customers sign up for low-income rates.Actual qualification wilt change the rate impact. *Other rates, including commercial and other residential rates will also see increased rates to cover the low income rates. This table only shows the impact on residential regularly scheduled services *As a percentage of the 35-gal weekly service rate: Discount Discount from a Amount 35 Gal Weekly $5.00 16% $10.00 32% $15.00 49%