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Freeport council adopts revised garbage fee schedule; finance director says rates reduced from prior ordinance
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 2025-36 (second reading) updating garbage fees and the director said the proposal actually lowers the amounts that were in the prior ordinance after a five-year projection of expenses and program frequency.
The Freeport City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-36 on second reading (vote 8-0), amending Chapter 10-60 (waste and recycling collection and disposal) to adjust garbage fees through the end of the current 10-year contract with haulers.
Finance Director Richter told the council the proposed ordinance projects expenses over a five-year period and sets rates to sustain the trash fund, which covers hauler payments, the Refresh Freeport program and bad-debt write-offs. Richter said she was able to set rates lower than those in the existing ordinance by projecting service frequency (Refresh Freeport, electronics recycling and potential tire days) and fund expenses.
Key details: The city maintains a dedicated health and environmental fund for trash fees. Director Richter said the fund pays hauler invoices, funds Refresh Freeport events and covers bad-debt write-offs tied to trash charges. Council members asked how the scale of future adjustments was determined and how residents would be informed; Richter said the five-year projection considered anticipated service frequency and participation.
Council discussion touched on whether contractors dump at Refresh Freeport and whether that affected tonnage. Public works staff said Gills (the hauler) has monitored loads and rejected commercial construction debris; staff reported a large number of mattresses and primarily residential material at recent events.
Vote: The ordinance was adopted 8-0. Finance staff said changes will take effect as written in the ordinance and the sanitation fund will continue to be monitored in future budget cycles.
Background: At a prior council meeting the annual automatic rate increase was suspended; this ordinance updates the schedule through the contract term. Director Richter noted the city’s contract with haulers runs 10 years and adjustments are needed to keep the fund sustainable.
Implementation: Director Richter and the finance department will continue to monitor the health and environmental fund and bring adjustments or write-offs to council during budget work.
