City of Laurens – Explanation of Solid Waste Collection Fee and Other Changes
October 2, 2023
Dear City of Laurens Residents,
In the past, the City of Laurens (the “City”) levied a monthly solid waste collection fee of $11.
The City maintained this monthly rate for over a decade, including calendar year 2023, when the city reentered the solid waste collection business when our former contractor elected to suspend further operations in the City. Reentry to the solid waste business was carefully considered by City Council, including a thorough review of the costs of performing this necessary public health service. In the end, it was determined that the City’s operation of solid waste services could not be sustained in the absence of a fee increase.
New Fee Structure: Commencing with the 2023 tax bills, there will be an annual public works fee of $168 assessed on all residential and renter-occupied (6%) residential properties. Since the fee will be included on your annual tax bill, it is being paid as a lump sum for the entire year in lieu of a monthly charge and it will cover your solid waste collection services for the entire calendar year of 2024. This fee equates to $14.00 per month, a $3.00 increase over prior monthly fees of $11.00 per month.
Let’s break it down:
- Old Fee:$11 x 12 months = $132
- New Fee:$168 per year ($14 x 12 months)
- Difference:$168 – $132 = $36
Benefits of the New Fee Structure
- Single Payment:With an annual fee, you will pay a flat amount and receive services for the entire year.
- Reliable & Affordable Service:This change ensures that the City can continue to provide reliable and safe solid waste collection services to all residents without drastically raising service costs to market rates.
- Efficiency:This adjustment eliminates the costs associated with monthly billing statements, postage, and the workforce required for collecting delinquent accounts. Streamlining the billing process allows us to allocate more resources directly to waste collection operations.
- Better Collections: It is anticipated that inclusion of the solid waste fees on the tax bill will increase payment performance, meaning that timely payors will not be subsidizing delinquent payors or nonpayers.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we make best-efforts to sustain our solid waste collection services. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this change, please review the list of Frequently Asked Question attached to this letter. Additionally, please do not hesitate to contact our Streets and Sanitation Department at (864) 681-2370.
Thank you for your cooperation and cooperation as we work together to maintain the excellence of our community.
Sincerely
Eric Delgado
City Administrator Frequently Asked Question
Q: Does this affect commercial businesses and nonprofits?
The public works fee is only applicable to residences. It is not applied to the tax bill of commercial businesses (non-residential), industries or non-profits. These types of organizations must independently contract with a third-party solid waste provider.
- How does the City’s solid waste fee compare to surrounding solid waste providers?
The below table shows a comparative table of solid waste rates and charges (annualized) for the City and other municipal and commercial solid waste providers.
Organization Annual Rate
City of Laurens $168
City of Clinton $192
City of Abbeville $210.96
City of Fountain Inn $168
Carolina Waste Management $300
- If I already paid by solid waste fee, do I get reimbursed?
Residents who have prepaid for solid waste collection that any account with current credits as of January 1, 2024 will be reimbursed in full. Your account will be thoroughly reviewed, and any remaining credits will be promptly returned to you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to the City if you have a question about reimbursement or whether reimbursement funds will be owed to you.
