SENATE BILL 210 VOTED DOWN
COMMUNITIES SUPPORT SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS (SWMDs)
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FROM: the Association of Indiana SWMDs (AISWMD)
Every call made a difference. Senate Bill (SB) 210 was voted down. The vote was 25-25. Thank you to all the grass roots supporters who burned the phone lines to support the District! Professionals, business owners, council representatives, mayors, town councilors and other residents through- out Indiana voiced their support of solid waste management districts (SWMDs).
Indiana residents called Senators to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 210. SB 210 was Senator Beverly Gard’s legislation which proposed to eliminate the taxing authority of solid waste management districts. The bill had proposed that the funding of the districts would be shifted to counties. However, the reality is—sending funding (both property tax and user fees) to the county does not in any way ensure that that money will find its way back to solid waste, recycling, household hazardous waste, emergency management, education or other programming. With county budget shortfalls, it is likely that those funds would have been absorbed in other county priorities. Therefore, the bill was detrimental for all solid waste districts currently funded through property taxes and user fees. The requirement of “minimum standards” for services came will little detail and even less teeth to enforce it, and would have left constituents and communities without much needed and expected services. Another critical element in the bill was that if the funding had been sent to the counties, it completely leaves out input from cities and towns that is now so critical in programming.
SWMDs are willing to review the positive aspects of the bill if it needs to be revisited and our lobbyists will continue to monitor the legislature. It is vital to the health of Indiana that the services of SWMDs remain an integral part of communities in Indiana. Please tell your friends and business associates to be vigilant about supporting recycling, hazardous materials management, environmental education, and other district services in their communities. Thank you again Senators for your support of the districts and thank you Indiana residents who use our services. The Districts ask that you thank the Senators who opposed SB 210. To see the votes, visit www.in.gov/legislative/. Click on Bills & Resolutions, Complete Info. on bills. Scroll down to SB 210. Look at Roll Call No. 167. The Nay votes were the ones who voted against the bill.
If you value the services of solid waste management districts in Indiana, the districts ask that you call your Senators TODAY, and continue through January 31, 2012. Call 1-800-382-9467 PRIOR to Wednesday February 1st to tell all Senators to oppose Senate Bill (SB) 210. SB 210 is Senator Beverly Gard’s legislation which proposes to eliminate the taxing authority of solid waste management districts. Professionals, business owners, council representatives, mayors, town councillors, county commissioners, county councillors are especially needed to call their Senators to ask them tovote NO on the bill.
The bill states that the funding of the districts would be shifted to counties. However, the reality is—sending funding (both property tax and user fees) to the county does not in any way ensure that that money will find its way back to solid waste, recycling, household hazardous waste, emergency management, education or other programming. With county budget shortfalls, it is likely that those funds will be absorbed in other county priorities. Therefore, the bill is detrimental for all solid waste districts currently funded through property taxes and user fees. The requirement of “minimum standards” for services comes will little detail and even less teeth to enforce it, leaving constituents and communities without much needed and expected services. Another critical element in the bill is that if the funding is sent to the counties, it completely leaves out input from cities and towns that is now so critical in programming.
In the committee hearing, it was misstated that solid waste districts have not been evaluated for 22 years. The fact is that the legislature has evaluated solid waste districts regularly, updating and revising the statute and evaluating the value of the districts. There is no truth to the fact that there hasn’t been significant oversight throughout the 22 year life of solid waste districts by local elected officials, IDEM, and the state legislature.
Districts ask that each and every business, each mayor, town councillor, county commissioner, and county councillor from each district get on the phone with or meet with your Senator PRIOR TO WEDNESDAY FEB 1st before the full Senate vote. It is also important that others who have a lot to lose, be it teachers who utilize district education assistance, MS4 communities, and residents who value district programs contact their Senator to vote NO on SB 210. Citizens need to call 1-800-382-9467 and ask their Senators:“What are you doing to our solid waste programs?! Are you going to trash Indiana?” To locate your Senator, visit: http://district.iga.in.gov/DistrictLookup/.For more information on the bill, contact your local solid waste management district.
BUSINESS PLAN FOR A MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY
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Download a copy of the recent proposal to construct a Materials Recovery Facility.
