University City task force recommends 8.45% solid-waste rate increase; council to consider ordinance Feb. 24

At a Feb. 10 study session, the University City City Council received a report recommending a proposed solid-waste rate increase that would raise the typical single-family 90-gallon refuse charge by 8.45% in 2025.

The recommendation comes from a task force convened by the council and based on an updated rate study by MSW Consultants; the task force unanimously approved “Option 2” on Jan. 22, 2025. Finance Director Keith Cole presented the task force’s findings and the recommended rate schedule to the council on Monday.

Under the Option 2 scenario, the standard 90-gallon single-family rate would increase from $110.10 to $119.40 every six months — a $9.30 rise the city equated to roughly 5 cents per day. The senior six-month rate would move from $93.30 to $101.40, an $8.10 increase (about 4 cents per day). Cole said the discussion focused on single-family accounts because they make up the city’s largest group of customers: “we focused on the single rights because that’s our bulk. We have over 8,000 accounts,” he said.

The task force considered…