ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: February 23, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: New Business TO: Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee
FROM: Zachary Meyer, Public Works Director
DATE: February 23, 2026
SUBJECT: Rate Increase for Refuse and Recycling Structure
Proposed refuse and recycling rate increase.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the item be referred to full Council to approve Prop 218 Notices, and for full rate adoption at the time the fiscal year (FY) 26/27 budget is considered.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Bakersfield provides solid waste services such as collection, maintenance, processing, and disposal of discarded materials as well as alley cleanups, illegal dumping, and bulky item pickups to all residents and businesses within the City. In addition, the City also pays for a local sorting facility for recyclables, private haulers for collections services, and the County of Kern for disposing materials at their landfills.
In 2025, the City hired HF&H Consultants, Inc., a professional firm with expertise in utility rates and finance, to analyze the financial condition of the Refuse Fund and prepare a Solid Waste Rate Study. On February 23, 2026, HF&H will present a detailed overview of their evaluation and recommendation regarding refuse and recycling rate increases to the Special Finance, Economic Development and Jobs Committee. Upon direction of this Committee regard ing which refuse and recycling rate is suitable, City will then present the results of the rate analysis at the March 25, 2026 Council Meeting to authorize City staff to mail Proposition 218 notices to rate payers, informing them of proposed changes to ref use and recycling rates for FY 26/27 - 30/31.
Annual fees for residential refuse and recycling rates are billed on the Kern County property tax roll each fiscal year. Also, new accounts added throughout the year are billed pro-rata by the City until the start of the next fiscal year. Some of these bills remain unpaid and become delinquent.
Fees adopted by City for services rendered do not exceed the reasonable estimated cost for providing the services. Staff has determined that the proposed rates do not exceed the cost of services.
Proposition 218 also requires a public hearing in which the public may support or protest the rate increase.
Proposition 218 process entails a protest -ballot whereby property owners are notified of a proposed fee or fee increase and have a 45-day period to issue a protest against the fee increase, either in writing or at a public hearing. Notices are tentatively scheduled to be mailed out in April 2026. The public hearing to consider the proposed update is tentatively scheduled for June 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This proposal has no impact on the General Fund; it is all related to Refuse Enterprise Fund.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Reliable Infrastructure
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
Presentation.