§ 4-4-30. Rate case expenses.

(a)

The county may expend through its environmental and extension services department or other agencies sums from the general fund to defray the cost of experts and others retained by the county to conduct rate regulation and review.

(b)

If sums available from the general fund are insufficient or if the board of county commissioners shall determine it proper to assess rate case expense to franchisees who are the subject of rate regulation, then the county shall require of every franchisee monthly contributions equal to the county expense for regulation reasonably anticipated. Such expenses shall be allowable as rate case expenses.

(c)

Whenever the county shall retain experts or consultants whose services are required for the simultaneous review of two (2) or more franchisees, then the county shall allocate those expenses among its franchised haulers in fair proportion to the efforts required by experts and other consultants in review of the franchisee operations as evidence and fairness shall require. Such expenses shall be allowable as rate case expenses.

(d)

The franchisee under this article shall pay the county a sum of money equal to three (3) percent of the franchisee's gross revenues per year derived from its solid waste hauling operation within the franchised area. The county shall add a sum equal to three (3) percent of the franchisee's authorized charge for residential service to the amount of the special assessment levied for each residential unit appearing on the special assessment roll. In addition to authorized rates, fees, and charges, the franchisee shall charge and collect the three (3) percent fee from its nonresidential customers. Nonresidential regulatory fees shall be paid to the county on a semi-annual basis. No regulatory fee shall be imposed on construction waste.

(Ord. No. 2004-006, § 1, 2-10-04)