Subject:
Title
Resolution adopting an increased Solid Waste tipping fee for Fiscal Years 2027 and 2028.
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Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Adoption of the resolution to increase the Solid Waste tipping fee to $63.57 per ton, effective October 1, 2026, and $68.65 per ton, effective October 1, 2027.
• This item is a separate adoption of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 tipping fee at $63.57 per ton, as presented during the Budget Information Session and included in the FY27 Proposed Budget, and FY28 tipping fee at $68.65 per ton.
• The FY27 rate is an 8.0% increase from the FY26 rate of $58.86 per ton and was based on the recommendation of Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. and the Technical Management Committee. The FY28 rate increase is an 8.0% increase from the proposed FY27 rate.
• The tipping fee revenues are receipted to the Solid Waste Revenue and Operating Fund, and are included in the FY27 Proposed Budget, in the amount of $64,175,640.00.
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Strategic Priorities:
Resilient Infrastructure and Environment
1.2 Maintain and enhance County infrastructure.
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.1 Improve public health.
Summary:
Summary
Pinellas County Code § 106-53 requires that Solid Waste tipping fees be fixed and established by resolution of the Board after public hearing. The code also requires that the Technical Management Committee (TMC) make recommendations to the Board concerning tipping fees. The TMC, at a publicly noticed meeting on January 28, 2026, reviewed and recommended a fee of $63.57 per ton for one (1) year. The TMC recommendations were presented to the Board of County Commissioners on April 30, 2026, and during the Budget Information Session on June 11, 2026. The revised rate was publicly noticed in the Tampa Bay Times on June 28, 2026, and July 5, 2026.
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Background Information:
The power purchase agreement formerly held with Duke Energy Corporation expired on December 31, 2024. That agreement included capacity payments to the County in exchange for guarantees that power would be provided to Duke by the County. In FY24, capacity payments totaled $77,361,750.00. While power is being brokered on the open market to generate electricity sales revenue (budgeted at $14,341,340.00 in the FY26 Annual Operating and Capital Budget), capacity payments have ceased. Solid Waste Reserves were strategically built in anticipation of the end of the power purchase agreement and are now being drawn down to partially replace the lost capacity payment revenue. A rate study was conducted by Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. and was presented to the Technical Management Committee and the Board of County Commissioners. The recommendation of that rate study is an 8.0% increase in tipping fees each year for three (3) years in order to partially replace lost revenue and maintain required reserves. Rate increases for FY 2027 and FY 2028 are the final two (2) years of the planned three (3) years of increases.
Fiscal Impact:
This is a $4.71 per ton (8.0%) increase, from $58.86 per ton to $63.57 per ton.
The estimated and budgeted tipping fees revenue in the FY 2027 Proposed Budget is $64,175,640.00, an increase of $4,753,760.00 compared to the FY26 Annual Operating and Capital Budget.
The tipping fee revenues are receipted to the Solid Waste Revenue and Operating Fund, and are included in the FY 2027 Proposed Budget, in the amount of $64,175,640.00.
Staff Member Responsible:
Paul Sacco, Director, Solid Waste
Chris Rose, Director, Office of Management and Budget
Partners:
Pinellas County Solid Waste
Pinellas County Solid Waste Technical Management Committee
Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc.
Attachments:
Resolution No. 26-