Council approves FY25 budget amendment and directs staff to negotiate Merck Mile rates after resident outcry

City Council on Feb. 25 approved a fiscal‑year‑2025 budget amendment to increase general and sanitation fund appropriations for capital investments and operational needs, after staff explained the amendment funds fire apparatus, facility repairs and sanitation capital items.

The council approved an amendment that increases the city’s FY25 budget by $7,376,760 to cover infrastructure, equipment and transfer items. Substantial elements cited in the discussion included capital repairs and vehicle purchases tied to public safety and transfers to fund Merck Mile improvements and operations.

Separately, council debated a resident request to restore lower resident fees for the Merck Mile Citizen Convenience Center. Residents complained they now face higher costs after the city kept the per‑visit fee at $10 but reduced the weight allowance, creating effective price increases for typical household bulk loads. Several residents and advocates urged council to return to a $10 charge for up to 360 pounds for residents and to leave nonresident charges unchanged.

Council considered a motion to direct staff to negotiate a resident rate of $10 for up to 360 pounds and keep nonresident fees at $20 for up to 150 pounds; that specific motion failed. Council then approved a motion authorizing the city manager to negotiate rates for Merck Mile and return with recommendations — the manager was tasked with providing a recommendation based on vendor data and fiscal impact. Staff said vendor and transaction data will be analyzed further to separate resident from commercial/nonresident users and to confirm operational costs before any permanent rate change.

Ending: The FY25 budget amendment passed unanimously. Staff will return with a data‑driven recommendation on Merck Mile residential and nonresident rates and report back to council with options for FY26.