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1. Why is the city considering making changes to its sanitation program?

• The current sanitation fee does not cover the costs of the current sanitation program which is being subsidized out of the general fund.
• Staffing is not sufficient to cover current sanitation services and greenspace tasks.
• The fleet and equipment have aged out or are approaching the end of their useful life.
• The county is considering increasing tipping fees which the current sanitation fees will not cover.
• The current service contributes to low employee morale, difficulty with retention, and physical issues for staff. Sanitation staff has shared incidents that include:
  • attacks by unleashed pets,
  • exposure to vermin and roaches from unbagged waste,
  • chronic pain developed from lifting and walking, and
  • antagonistic and potentially demeaning interactions with residents.

2. Why does the city need to replace Public Works’ vehicles and equipment?

• Most of the vehicle fleet has aged past its useful lifespan of seven (7) years. To provide proper service and fulfill sanitation and green space activities, the city will need to have a best-practice vehicle replacement program.  
• To continue in-house sanitation services, two new garbage trucks are needed = $400k.
• A new dump truck is needed for general public works needs including sanitation = $100K.
• To maintain leaf collection,
  • two new leaf trucks are needed = $200k
  • two new leaf vacuums are needed = $220k

3. If DeKalb County DOES NOT approve an increase to the tipping fee, what will the city’s sanitation fee be per resident/household?

If DeKalb County DOES NOT increase the tipping fee on a county level, the city’s sanitation fee is listed below for each scenario:

• Scenario 1 – $714 per year ($59.50/month) + property tax increase of +.25 mil
• Scenario 2 – $680 per year ($56.70/month) + general fund increases to $143k or roughly .5 mill
• Scenario 3 – $425 per year ($35/month) + property tax increase of +.25 mil

4. If DeKalb County DOES increase the tipping fee, what will the city’s sanitation fee be per resident/household?

If DeKalb County increases the tipping fee on a county level, the city’s sanitation fee is listed below for each scenario:

• Scenario 1 – $829 per year + property tax increase of +.25 mil
• Scenario 2 – $795 per year + general funds increases to $143k or roughly .5 mill
• Scenario 3 – $425 per year ($35/month) + property tax increase of +.25 mil

5. Will property tax increases be required in the various scenarios?

In Scenario 1, the sanitation fee will be $714 per year with a property tax increase of .25 mill. With this option, seven vehicles/equipment will be replaced and four new non-managerial floating positions will be added. If the tipping fee increases at a county level, the sanitation fee will increase to $829 per year.

With Scenario 2, services switch to once-a-week curbside solid waste collection, seven vehicles/equipment will be replaced, and 96-gallon cans for residents will be provided. The sanitation fee will increase to $680 per year. General funds will increase by $143.4k or roughly .5 mills and the greenspace team will be fully staffed by floating workers and the addition of one full-time staff. If tipping fees increase, the sanitation fee will increase to $795 per year.

In Scenario 3, the solid waste collection will be outsourced. All sanitation staff will have the option to work for the sanitation contractor and no one will lose their job. The city will retain the yard waste and leaf collection program. Unneeded equipment and trucks will be sold and Greenspace Department will be fully scoped. The sanitation fee for this scenario will be $425 per year with a potential property tax increase of .25 mill.

6. What is the approximate potential property tax increase per millage rate?

The potential property tax increase per household is:

• +.25 mill = $11/$100k per year
• +.5 mill = $22/$100k per year

7. Does the city’s current sanitation fee cover staffing needs and generate enough capital for sanitation operation needs?

• No. Unfortunately, the city’s current sanitation fee is not sufficient to cover its staffing needs nor generate enough capital to replace its aging fleet.
• To cover all the current services provided by the sanitation and greenspace teams, four additional full-time staff would need to be added.

8. Will the city provide training for sanitation and greenspace employees if additional floating staff are hired? What will their tasks include?

• Yes. Sanitation and greenspace staff will be cross-trained for both functions.
• Tasks include sanitation, greenspace and events work.

9. Would residents need to buy new trash bins if the sanitation service moves to street pickup?

No. 96-gallon trash cans that are compatible with new garbage trucks would be provided by the city if the city keeps the sanitation service in-house and moves to curbside solid waste collection (Scenario 2). Trash bins will be issued by the contractor in Scenario 3.

10. When will the city know if the county tipping fees will change?

• DeKalb County has indicated that it plans to phase in changes to tipping fees over the coming years though no specific timetable has been provided to municipalities within the county.  
• The proposed tipping fee increase will result in an approximately $15 sanitation fee increase per residence or household per year.

11. If the city moves to outsourced sanitation services, will employees lose their jobs?

Current sanitation staff will have the option to work for the sanitation contractor and will not lose their jobs.

12. Why doesn’t the sanitation fee decrease more if the city moves to a once-a-week curbside service?

The aging fleet still needs to be replaced and some full-time staff need to be retained to meet the demands of yard waste, leaf collection and events.

13. Why do we need to add staff to the greenspace team?

The city’s greenspace has increased and so have the activities required to maintain it.

14. If the city outsources sanitation services, who will provide the services?

The city would release a request for proposal (RFP) or bid package to find the best service for the city.