Marshall County Council approves Solid Waste Management District's 2027 budget

The Marshall County Council unanimously approved the Solid Waste Management District's 2027 budget at a special meeting Monday, following a presentation by Director Marianne Peters.

Peters told council members the district's core mission is to provide critical environmental infrastructure, waste reduction, and compliance services. The district operates as a dependent unit under a dedicated revenue structure, ensuring state-mandated environmental planning, public education, and diversion services are maintained without impacting the County General Fund.

The district provides recycling opportunities for items that can't go in a landfill, such as electronic waste, lithium batteries, and freon appliances, allowing county residents and small businesses to dispose of those items at a low cost or for free thanks to their tax levy.

Peters reported that in 2025, the district diverted 316 tons of material from landfills through drop-off recycling, household hazardous waste (HHW) collections, and special collections such as Tire Amnesty Day, which is planned for Saturday, October 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Solid Waste served over 3,000 residents through its environmental education programs in 2025, with approximately 11,000 visitors to the district for drop-off recycling, HHW collection, and education programs.

The District operates on a self-sustaining fiscal model utilizing dedicated revenue streams. Marshall County Solid Waste has had the same tax levy since its inception in 1991. Additional revenue comes from recycling fees, recycling rebates, and revenues from small businesses. Non-residents pay a higher fee. The district also pursues grants on an annual basis to support its work.

Peters said that for 2027, the budget drivers and priorities are focused on sustainable operations growth.

"We are growing exponentially at the Recycle Depot, which is great. It means more residents are using us, but it does put a real strain on our budget because our tax levy isn't growing as quickly as our services and the demands on us are growing," Peters said.

Peters warned that the District will be increasing some fees because vendor expenses are growing. She said they are also working to reduce their personnel costs for health insurance.

Peters told council members there are three categories in their budget: personnel services, which accounts for about 70%; supplies and other charges; and capital improvements.

The total budget proposed for 2027 is $564,048, and the district has asked for the maximum levy to cover the budget. Peters noted that the Board of Directors has already approved the budget request for next year.

County Council President Tim Harman said he felt it was a responsible budget given their projected revenues. The council unanimously approved the 2027 budget presented.