Sec. 21. (a) Except as provided in subsection (l), the fiscal body of the unit owning, operating, and maintaining facilities for the collection or disposal of solid waste may, by ordinance, establish and maintain just and equitable fees for the use of and the service rendered by the facilities.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (m), if the fiscal body of a unit has authorized the issuance of revenue bonds under this chapter, it shall, as long as the bonds are outstanding, establish and maintain fees with respect to the facilities for which the bonds are issued.

(c) The aggregate amount of the required fees must be sufficient to pay the cost of operation, repair, depreciation, and maintenance of the facilities, and to pay the sums required to be paid into the bond fund under this chapter.

(d) The ordinance may provide that the fees are payable:

(1) by either the users of the facilities, the owners of the property served by the facilities, or the unit; or

(2) by the users, owners, and the unit in the proportions fixed by the ordinance.

(e) Revenues collected under this section are considered revenues of the facilities.

(f) The fees may not be established until after a public hearing at which the users of the facilities, the owners of property served or to be served by the facilities, and other interested parties have an opportunity to be heard concerning the proposed fees and the provisions concerning payment of the fees.

(g) After introduction of the ordinance fixing the fees and providing for their payment, and before the ordinance is finally adopted, notice of the hearing, setting forth the proposed schedule of fees and the provisions concerning payment, shall be published in accordance with IC 5-3-1.

(h) After the hearing, which may be adjourned from time to time, the ordinance, as originally introduced or as amended, shall be passed and put into effect. A copy of the schedule of fees established shall be kept on file in the office of the board and in the office of the fiscal officer of the unit. The fee schedule is a public record.

(i) The fees or the provisions for their payment may be changed or readjusted in the manner by which they were originally established. However, if the change or readjustment is made substantially pro rata as to all classes of use or service, no hearing or notice is required.

(j) If:

(1) a user of the facilities; or

(2) an owner of property served by the facilities;

does not pay a fee within thirty (30) days after it is due, the amount of the fee, together with a penalty of ten percent (10%) and a reasonable attorney's fee, may be recovered by the unit in a civil action in the name of the unit.

(k) The unit is subject to the fees established under this chapter. The unit shall pay the fees when due. The payments are considered part of the revenues of the facilities.

(l) This subsection applies to a county having a population of more than fifty-seven thousand (57,000) but less than sixty thousand (60,000). The county executive owning, operating, and maintaining facilities for the collection or disposal of solid waste may, by ordinance, establish and maintain just and equitable fees for the use of and the service rendered by the facilities.

(m) If the fiscal body of a county that is subject to subsection (l) has authorized the issuance of revenue bonds under this chapter, the county executive shall, as long as the bonds are outstanding, establish and maintain fees with respect to the facilities for which the bonds are issued.

[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citations: 19-2-1-16; 19-2-6-2 part.]

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.106. Amended by Acts 1981, P.L.45, SEC.92; P.L.102-1987, SEC.2; P.L.12-1992, SEC.188; P.L.170-2002, SEC.171; P.L.119-2012, SEC.234.