New proposed CC budget includes no tax increase; questions raised regarding revenue from Waste Management

Residents of Charles City may not be seeing an increase in taxes during the upcoming fiscal year.

Charles City Finance Director Christina Crawley-Jones presented a new budget for FY2025-26 during Tuesday night’s budget public hearing.

The amended budget factors in an expected increase of $1.9 million from AES. With the county receiving an additional $1 million for the sale of land to C5 and an additional $192,120, the additional revenue for the county now totals $3,092,120. This increase prompted Crawley-Jones to recommend no tax increase for the upcoming year, which would keep the real estate rate at 69 cents per $100 of assessed value.

With the new budget, county employees and constitutional officers are expected to receive a three-percent salary increase. A payroll specialist position will also be restored, as well as the county contributing funds for increased legal fees.

Charles City County Public Schools are expected to receive $7,201,636, which is level funding for the year. Fire and EMS is budgeted at $1,391,043, the department of social services $422,207, and child services at $338,340.

For the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), the school system will receive $296,394 to address computer upgrades and purchase a new bus. The county currently has no plans for projects for the next fiscal year. The utility fund is pegged at a price tag of $524,907.

During the public comment period, concern was raised by David Ledbetter about funding the county has not been receiving from Waste Management. Currently, Waste Management serves as the top finance contributor to the county, with 20 percent of Charles City’s revenue being received from the business. But Ledbetter commented that a document from early 2023 revealed discrepancies on the number of tons that were being reported by the business.

According to Ledbetter, the document indicated that fees were calculated incorrectly, resulting in the county being underpaid. One of those fees was the gate rate for entering the main facility. That was listed at $59.19 but was effectively raised to $81.68.

“This is important because the contract between the county and Waste Management calls for the county to receive 80 percent of charged tipping fees in excess of $38 per ton,” Ledbetter commented.

While the issue seemed corrected in July 2023, in December 2023 Charles City’s Landfill Advisory Commission informed county leaders of the issue. According to Ledbetter, calculations were equivalent to $200,00 per year over the past three years. In Feb. 2024, Waste Management acknowledged the mismanagement, with both the county and Waste Management recusing themselves due to a conflict of interest.

In Nov. 2024, the Landfill Advisory Commission was not made aware of any action with their actions when they approached interim county administrator Bill Coada at the time. Coada advised the board that former county attorney Randy Boyd was being retained on the matter. In Jan. 2025, Boyd told the commission that a deal had been reached with Waste Management concerning the base calculation fee.

However, the commission said that the settlement did not include a tolling agreement to unsolved claims. Boyd told the commission as late as February of this year that negotiations were continuing, but also learned the county received a payment for just less than $1.3 million.

“Before now, the county had not informed the public of its receipt of this money,” Ledbetter uttered. “We have learned that, in late February, the county, over [interim county administrator] Mr. (Sanford) Wanner’s signature, entered into an agreement tolling any statute of limitation on its remaining financial claims against Waste Management.”

No additional comments were made on the budget or the information presented on claims by Waste Management. County leaders are expected to vote on the proposed budget at the May 28 regular meeting.