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Whitefish council approves 18% residential garbage rate increase; debate continues on mandatory service
Summary
Council approved Resolution 25-8 to pass contract-driven increases from Republic Services to customers after years of absorbing prior rate hikes; councilors debated mandatory garbage service and other alternatives.
The Whitefish City Council approved Resolution 25-8 on May 5 to revise solid waste disposal fees, passing along past contract increases from Republic Services to customers and authorizing automatic annual increases tied to the hauler’s contract.
Staff said the city had not raised residential garbage rates since June 2022 and had absorbed three annual contract increases from Republic Services, which contracts for collection in the city and includes a 3.25% annual escalation clause. Dana, the city staff presenter, told council the solid waste fund has about $1.7 million in annual expenses, of which roughly $195,000 are city-administered costs such as billing and downtown collection. There are about 4,100 residential and 469 commercial accounts on the city roll.
The new rates: The proposed…
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