Residents and businesses would pay higher solid waste taxes to help cover street repair costs under a city of Kent proposal.
The City Council’s Public Works Committee on Monday discussed the proposal but delayed a vote on the measure to Oct. 6 until it has more information.
The 7.8 percent solid waste utility tax on customer bills could be boosted to 11.6 percent to raise $1 million per year for streets; to 15.1 percent to raise $2 million; or to 18.3 percent to bring in $3 million per year, according to city documents.
City staff brought the proposal to the committee after a council request about how to raise more money for street repairs. Kent has about 26,000 garbage customers served by Republic Services. About 24,000 of those are residential customers.
“It’s about $12 million a year that the city needs to address the maintenance on these roads citywide,” said Kelly Peterson, public works special projects manager, to the committee as he displayed a map of roads in need of repair.
Peterson said garbage rates in Kent are low compared to nearby cities.
“City of Kent customers enjoy some of the cheapest rates,” Peterson said.
Single-family residents in Kent pay $17.04 per month for garbage, recycling and yard waste service, according to city documents. That’s the cost for a 32-gallon weekly garbage pickup and up to a 96-gallon recycling and 96-gallon yard waste containers every other week.
The monthly rate in other cities includes Tukwila ($19.13), Renton ($21.12), Maple Valley ($24.76), Covington ($24.84), Burien (26.04), Auburn ($26.37), Des Moines ($26.53) and Federal Way ($28.88).
If Kent increased its utility tax to 11.6 percent the monthly cost would jump to $19.02; 15.1 percent would take it to $19.61; and 18.3 percent to $20.17 per month.
City officials rationalized the rate increase because of the damage garbage and recycling trucks cause to roads. The city maintains 320 miles of streets and more than half are residential, according to city staff.
One fully loaded garbage truck produces the same wear and tear of 1,500 cars, according to a study by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Councilwoman Dana Ralph asked city staff to come back the next meeting with a breakdown of costs to commercial and multifamily customers.
Committee members also asked staff for more information about implementing a franchise fee against Republic Services as opposed to increasing the solid waste utility tax.
City Attorney Tom Brubaker told the committee a franchise fee could be more difficult to implement.
“Cities can get into trouble if they are charging rates in excess to fund the general fund rather than just the utility fund,” said Brubaker, who added utility taxes can be easier imposed and raised. “The safest way to go is a utility tax.”
The council imposed a business and occupation tax in 2013 that brings in about $5 million per year to help pay for street repairs.
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