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Sanitation fund builds reserves, seeks two trucks and staff; council told 5% rate proposed
Summary
City staff proposed replacing two residential sanitation trucks and adding three sanitation positions, and said the fund's reserve ratio rose from 9% to 17%; a 5% sanitation rate increase was proposed as part of the draft budget.
City of Temple Terrace staff on Friday proposed replacing two residential sanitation trucks, adding one sanitation driver and two maintenance attendants and adopting a 5% sanitation rate increase as part of the draft fiscal‑year 2026 budget.
The administration said the sanitation fund has strengthened in the past year and permit investments that were previously unaffordable. "Unlike in years past where we didn't have any financial wherewithal to acquire vehicles ... we've been making investments. We've acquired 3 trucks actually in the last year and a half or so," the city manager said. The two replacement vehicles presented Friday are priced together at $600,000 and would replace a largely inoperable 2006 truck and a high‑mileage 2011 truck.
Staff also requested $173,292 in total wages and benefits for three positions (a sanitation driver and two maintenance attendants) to support expanded operations and to reduce reliance on temporary staff for maintenance tasks. The presentation said the sanitation reserve ratio rose from 9% in fiscal 2024 to about 17% currently; staff said the proposed purchases and positions were included in the draft plan and that the 17% reserve reflects the budget after programmed purchases.
Council members asked whether the reserve ratio and proposed purchases assumed proceeds from any vehicle sales; staff said they would check whether surplus equipment sales had been included and provide that information at the next workshop. The council did not vote on the rate proposal; staff said the 5% figure was in line with prior pro forma work and would be part of the July 8 follow‑up materials.
Staff said continuing to invest in fleet and maintenance staffing supports reliability of curbside service and reduces overtime and contractor dependencies. The presentation also noted related requests in the fleet fund and described the need for at least two residential reload trucks to maintain daily service levels.
