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Evansville council approves phased curbside refuse fee increase to shore up sewer funds
Summary
The Evansville Common Council on Feb. 9 approved a three-year, phased increase in the monthly curbside refuse charge—moving from $13.30 to $15.30 in 2026, $17.30 in 2027 and about $20.92 in 2028—after EWSU officials said the city has subsidized trash service from sewer funds and faces a $1.3 million shortfall since 2022.
The Evansville Common Council voted 8-1 on Feb. 9 to adopt Ordinance G-2026-02, a phased increase in the city's monthly curbside refuse and recycling charge intended to stop ongoing subsidies from the sewer fund and prevent a larger, abrupt increase when contract escalators take effect.
Vic Kelson, executive director of the Evansville Water & Sewer Utility, told the council the current $13.30 monthly charge has been unchanged for years while Republic Services' operating costs have climbed. Kelson said the utility has made up about $1,300,000 of shortfalls since 2022 by using sewer funds and that continuing the practice would jeopardize sewer projects required under the city's consent decree with federal regulators.
Under the ordina…
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