CITY OF SPOKANE REFUND TO RATEPAYERS

If you have garbage service anywhere in Spokane County or use the
WTE plant / Transfer Stations, you may be entitled to a refund.
Please submit the Ratepayer Refund Request Form today.

A preliminary audit* of the Spokane Regional Solid Waste System (System), a department of the City of Spokane, was performed by Missing Tribe Inc during 2007. Results of this audit indicated that the City of Spokane was overcharging the System for services provided, and landfill closure costs. The City of Spokane also allowed a preferred contractor (Wheelabrator Spokane Inc) to under-pay the System for recovered materials and electrical demand guarantees. The total misappropriated funds identified in the audit equals $13.3 million dollars.

The Spokane Regional Solid Waste System is funded by the ratepayers of Spokane County through "tipping fees", and these fees are collected each time a resident or their local garbage collector delivers solid waste to System facilities (Waste-to-Energy plant, Transfer Stations)

Spokane Waste to Energy has determined that any refund money that is generated by the upcoming City of Spokane / Spokane County performance audit belongs to the ratepayers in Spokane County, and not to the Regional System. Spokane Waste to Energy has provided a Ratepayer Refund Request Form to submit to the City of Spokane. This invoice will insure that the City of Spokane is aware that your portion of any and all refunds should be sent to you, and not merely exchanged between City departments (as was done with the 2006 SAO audit refund)*.

Refund amounts will vary, depending on where you live in Spokane County.

Also, please be aware that the dollar amounts from the preliminary audit are approximate, and will change once the final audit is completed. Please submit your Ratepayer Refund Request Form to:

    City of Spokane
    Accounts Payable - Ratepayer Refund
    W. 808 Spokane Falls Blvd
    Spokane WA 99201

Ratepayer Refund Request Forms submitted after the completion of the performance audit may not be eligible for a refund. Projected completion date - May 31, 2009.

*The preliminary audit was not authorized by the City of Spokane. Audit information was obtained via record requests from the City Clerk's office, and interviews with the previous Director.

*City of Spokane officials have stated publicly that they do not intend to return any refund monies to the ratepayers, but this policy may change.