The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 2025R‑091 to increase South Tahoe Refuse Company’s rates in the Tahoe Township for calendar year 2026 by a cumulative 9.69%.

Background and rationale: Phil Ricker, director of Public Works, explained the franchise’s rate-setting process. The South Lake Tahoe Basin Waste Management Authority (a three-member joint powers authority including Douglas County) engaged Crowe LLP for the rate study; interim year adjustments are driven primarily by changes in the Consumer Price Index and tipping fees at regional landfills. Crowe’s analysis used a CPI of 5.97% that translated into a 5% across-the-board adjustment, and combined with the separately approved three‑cart collection implementation produces the 9.69% cumulative increase for 2026.

Board action and vote: Commissioner Gardner moved adoption of Resolution 2025R‑091; Commissioner Tarkanian seconded. The motion carried unanimously.

County franchise fee and comparative context: Ricker noted Douglas County receives a 3% franchise fee on revenue from residents served by South Tahoe Refuse. In public comment, residents questioned why South Tahoe refuse rates are higher than some neighboring jurisdictions; staff explained differences in landfill ownership, tipping fees and the cost of operating in a mountain community with seasonal access and voluntary service (many nearby jurisdictions operate mandatory collection or control their own landfills). County staff and the company representative said Lockwood (Reno/Sparks) and Carson disposal sites and operational costs drive rates; the board heard that manual collection, snow-season operations and lower route density in mountain areas make per‑household costs higher than valley systems.

Ending: The resolution passed unanimously; the increased rate schedule will take effect for the 2026 calendar year, and the county will continue to receive the statutory franchise fee on revenue collected.