Modernizing an existing fee: Solid waste revenue recovery in Montgomery County 

Raftelis has served Montgomery County Environmental Services (MCES) in Ohio across multiple, complex engagements. Our work began with a comprehensive solid waste rate study designed to ensure the financial sustainability of the County’s enterprise fund. This study was multi-faceted, requiring a detailed audit of the County’s existing solid waste billing system to correct revenue leakage and address incorrect customer billing, a complex challenge due to reliance on private haulers for service data. Concurrently, we executed a rigorous, solid waste rate benchmarking exercise, examining charging methodologies used by solid waste districts across Ohio and nationwide to inform best practices. This effort culminated in the development of a multi-year financial plan for the solid waste enterprise fund, which included evaluating alternative charge methodologies to ensure long-term fiscal stability.   

Following the financial planning phase, Raftelis developed, managed, and supported the implementation of a new, cutting-edge technical solution: the Montgomery County Annual Property Charge (MCAPC) system. This complex, GIS-integrated billing system, now integral to MCES’s billing processes, provides a critical interface between hauler-reported service volumes and the County's parcel-based billing infrastructure. Raftelis was responsible for the full development and deployment, and continues to provide front-line customer service and maintenance support.  

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In addition to these core financial and technical projects, Raftelis also played a critical role in advancing MCES’s organizational maturity through the development and implementation of key performance indicators (KPIs) and a formal strategic plan. This effort involved facilitating MCES leadership in updating their organizational goals and developing a portfolio of performance measures aligned with those goals to drive continuous improvement across solid waste and water services. Furthermore, Raftelis assisted MCES with a comprehensive capital and charge study to evaluate their long-term financial position against significant capital needs for aging solid waste and water infrastructure.   

A key measure of success for the Montgomery County project was the immediate financial benefit achieved after implementing the new MCAPC system: the County was able to realize an additional $1.7 million in annual parcel fee revenue without the need to increase the existing fee or enact a new tax. This remarkable financial gain was realized primarily by correcting billing errors and ensuring all served parcels were accurately captured in the new system.