Some East Bay homeowners may see a little — just a little — drop on their property tax bill
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority might lower the fee it collects via taxes for its household hazardous waste program.
OAKLAND — It doesn’t happen often, but Alameda County homeowners’ property taxes may be lowered — by a teeny bit.
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority is proposing lowering the fee it collects for its household hazardous waste program from $9.55 to $6.64 a year, or just under three bucks.
The reason? The household hazardous waste fund has enough money. Its closing balance of $13.2 million for fiscal year 2017-18 exceeded projections by about $1.8 million, according to a consultant’s report.
The favorable fund balance was the result of expenses climbing more slowly than expected.
Plus a $2.15 per-ton fee for solid waste disposal, which also helps fund the hazardous waste program, and charges levied upon waste when it arrives at processing facilities, did not decline as expected, the report says.
Alameda City Councilman Jim Oddie, who serves on the agency’s board, said Paint Care, an industry-funded program for handling paint disposal, helped the county achieve lower costs.
The agency will look at whether the fee should be raised or lowered in the future, with the first review to take place before July 1, 2024. But the fee won’t go over $9.55 a year.
The Alameda County Household Hazardous Waste program provides places where residents can drop off items and substances that can damage the environment, such as oil, paints and pesticides. Such things should not be put in the trash or recycling bins.
The free program has locations in Oakland, Fremont, Hayward and Livermore.
“I encourage people to use the county HHW facilities if they haven’t already,” Oddie said. “The Oakland location is just a few blocks from the Park St. Bridge. Residents should check out www.stopwaste.org/hhw for hours and what’s accepted. It only takes a few minutes to drop off your unwanted toxics, and you don’t even have to get out of your car.”
Along with the annual $9.55 fee gathered through the property tax roll, the program is funded through a $2.15 per-ton fee on solid waste disposal, established in 1990.
Next month, the authority’s board will consider amending an ordinance to lower the tax roll fee and remove a June 30, 2024, sunset date for the tax.
The board will meet at 3 p.m. Sept. 25 at 1537 Webster St., Oakland.
Residents can submit written comments objecting to the fee change. The correspondence must include name, address, parcel number, number of residential units on the parcel, a statement explaining any objection and an original signature.
Correspondence should be mailed to Alameda County Waste Management Authority, 1537 Webster St., Oakland, 94612. It must be received by noon Sept. 25 or delivered in person at the meeting.
For more information, go to www.StopWaste.org/HHW.