Walnut Grove council holds public hearing on FY26 budget; garbage collection costs to shift to residents under proposal

At a Walnut Grove City Council meeting that began at 6:00 p.m., council members opened a public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and discussed a plan that would move the city’s annual garbage collection charge to residents starting in January if the budget is adopted.

The change to the garbage-collection funding was described during the hearing as a measure to reduce the city’s general fund expenditures. Council members said the city currently covers a full year of garbage collection for all city residences and that, under the proposed budget, that cost would be shifted to residents beginning in January if the budget is approved. Meeting remarks noted the city’s annual cost for garbage service was shown in the budget and that staff expects that change to be an adjustment for some households.

City Administrator Joe Morris said…