Van Buren Solid Waste Expenses Rise During Pandemic

A long-term plan to fix Van Buren County’s solid waste budget will be necessary, according to the county’s budget committee chairman.

Budget Committee Chairman William Maxwell said convenience centers had to go unmanned during the pandemic. That led to an enormous amount of trash piling up.

Maxwell said that caused hauling and dumping expenses to increase. Maxwell said COVID intensified existing issues in the department

“We’re not ahead, we’re not ahead very much and basically all I can say is we’re one breakdown away from a problem,” Maxwell said. “We have an old, aging truck and we have a leased truck, we’re basically one breakdown from being in the red again.”

Maxwell said personnel hours at convenience centers were also adjusted this fiscal year. Maxwell said these changes were made, based on the departments situation heading into the fiscal year.

“We ended the year last year with some trouble in the solid waste department, in that fund and that caused us to start with not very much money this year,” Maxwell said. “Ate up all of our fund balance last year to finish out the year for disposal and tipping fees, during the lock down from solid waste.”

Maxwell said a county plan needs to be developed in order for the department to maintain in the future.

“We’re gonna have to develop a plan,” Maxwell said. “I wouldn’t dare say that we’re failing in solid waste but we’re not far ahead.”

Van Buren County’s fiscal years run from July to June. Maxwell said two tax pennies, equaling $12,500  went into solid waste to re-establish the balance this fiscal year.

However, Maxwell said that money goes back into the general fund next year.