Sparks adopts 2025–26 budget and directs city manager to raise waste-management fee to 14%

The Sparks City Council voted 3–2 on Monday to adopt the city’s final fiscal year 2025–26 budget and to direct the city manager to raise the waste-management franchise fee from 8% to 14% of gross receipts (a net 6-point increase). Council members Ed Abbott, Paul Anderson and Charlene Spivey voted in favor; Councilwoman Vanderwell and Councilman Rodriguez voted no.

The measure, moved by Councilman Ed Abbott and seconded by Councilman Paul Anderson, was the culmination of weeks of staff briefings and council debate about how to close a structural gap in the city’s revenue while protecting core services. The council’s motion instructed the city manager to implement a 14% gross-receipts franchise fee for waste management while the budget document submitted for signature continues to reflect the draft revenue assumptions previously circulated to council.

Council members who opposed the measure said the increase would place further burden…