Portsmouth authorizes mailing to 1,200 households as curbside participation falls short and FY27 rates may rise about $160

The Portsmouth Town Council voted to authorize an informational mailing to approximately 1,200 households that are not currently enrolled in curbside or transfer-station service, part of a strategy staff described as "closing the gap" to stabilize the enterprise fund for solid-waste services.

Town Administrator Rainer provided enrollment figures: 3,224 households enrolled in the curbside program, 2,043 using the Headley Street transfer station, and 93 Prudence Island households signed up for the Prudence Island transfer station. "So that totals a little over 5,200 households participating in one of the two programs, which leaves roughly 1,200 households that are eligible but not currently enrolled," Rainer said.

Rainer told the council the curbside program was originally priced assuming 4,000 subscribers and that the town was about 776 subscribers below that projection, meaning the curbside subscription price for fiscal year 2027 will likely need to increase by approximately $160. He described the mailing as an educational outreach, not enforcement, and said the mailing would be funded as a pre-expense to the enterprise fund budget.

Councilors asked how many households legitimately have alternative disposal methods, whether other towns had similar increases, and about contract pricing elements such as tipping fees and CPI escalators. Rainer said the tipping fee at the regional facility would remain $63 per ton next year and that many contracts include a CPI-based escalator. A motion to send the informational mailing to the unenrolled households was made and approved (motion recorded as 6 to 0).

Staff said they will continue evaluating participation and bring additional backup to upcoming meetings, including March 23.