$150 RTF Sticker, Doubled Bag Fees Proposed Under New Enterprise Fund Model
Key Points
- Town officials propose creating an enterprise fund to make the Recycling and Transfer Facility (RTF) financially self-sufficient.
- Proposed fee increases include raising the first vehicle sticker to $150 and doubling the cost of trash bags to $2 (small) and $4 (large).
- Officials argue the new model is necessary to ensure RTF-generated revenue directly supports its operations instead of being diverted to the town's general fund.
- The enterprise fund would cover the RTF's capital costs, freeing up $100,000 to $300,000 annually in the town's capital budget.
- Residents raised concerns about the fairness of the model and the accounting for town-generated trash, which officials promised to track.
- The Select Board will vote on the new fees separately, while the enterprise fund itself will go before voters at Town Meeting.
Cohasset officials detailed a proposal to convert the Recycling and Transfer Facility (RTF) into a self-sustaining enterprise fund, a move they argue is critical for its long-term viability, during a community forum on Wednesday night. The plan, which would require a vote at Town Meeting, is accompanied by a series of proposed fee increases designed to make the facility cover its own operational and capital costs. Under the proposal, the comprehensive RTF and beach sticker for a first vehicle would double from $75 to $150, while the cost for large and small "pay-as-you-throw" bags would also double to $4 and $2, respectively.
Director of Public Works Brian Joyce explained the financial necessity for the change, noting the current system is unsustainable. "Today, that roll of trash bag that cost $20, uh, only 1% of that is going back to the RTF," Joyce stated. "So, 20 cents of your $20 is going to the RTF, and... the rest of it... is going to support the schools, police, fire, and the rest of the town operations." Town Manager Chris Senior added that without the enterprise fund structure, which ensures revenue generated by the RTF stays with the RTF, the base sticker fee would need to be much higher. "If we were to fully fund the... enterprise fund in the current system... we'd have to raise the base fee to $385 for a permit," he explained, calling the enterprise fund model a way to "force you to run it like a business."
Residents questioned the new model's implications, raising concerns about why the RTF was being singled out and how town-generated trash would be accounted for. "Why are we singling it out to become an enterprise fund? Because we can," resident Will Ashton asked pointedly. The discussion highlighted that a key benefit of the change would be covering the RTF's annual capital needs—estimated between $100,000 and $300,000—within its own budget, freeing up significant funds in the town's strained capital plan. RTF Operations Manager Frank emphasized the importance of a business-like approach in a volatile industry. "This is what this is giving you, right? This is giving you someone to watch the P&L of the operation," he said.
The Select Board is expected to vote on the new fee schedule at its next meeting, which will impact residents regardless of the enterprise fund's passage. The creation of the enterprise fund itself will be presented to voters on the warrant at the upcoming Town Meeting. The meeting's chair acknowledged the valuable community feedback, stating, "We've heard... talk about direct and indirect costs and I think that's a very valid topic for us to incorporate into our financial plan, specifically the yellow bags." The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.