City staff proposes raising residential garbage rate to $14 to shore up fund

Mapleton City staff recommended raising residential garbage service rates to stop continued reserve erosion in the solid‑waste fund and to build a buffer against ongoing vendor price increases.

Bryce Oiler, who presented the fund history, said Mapleton closed FY25 with a $122,000 operating loss and is projecting a roughly $133,000 deficit in FY26. He told the council the fund balance has fallen from about $724,000 in 2023 to $499,000 at the end of FY25 and that staff expects to continue using reserves to cover operating costs unless revenue rises. "We're going to establish a sustainable rate in our solid waste fund," Oiler said, noting that Republic Services contract costs and higher Dry Creek transfer‑station tonnage fees drove much of the pressure.

Staff outlined two pricing options. Option A would raise the first can from $11.50 to $13.50 and the second can from $8 to $9.50 and produce an estimated modest annual surplus (about $25,000). Option B would set the first can at $14 and additional cans at $10, producing an estimated $100,000 annual surplus and a stronger cushion for future vendor increases. Oiler recommended Option B, saying it would reduce the likelihood of revisiting the issue annually as Republic Services' annual contract increases and possible transfer‑station fee hikes continue.

Council members asked for clarifications about the reserve target and behavioral effects. Oiler said a common enterprise‑fund practice is holding roughly 180 days of operating reserves; using the city's recent revenue and expenditure numbers, that target equates to about $500,000. Several council members urged staff to run a few additional pricing permutations (for example, narrowing the gap between first and second cans) to test whether rate structure changes would change resident behavior. One councilor observed that a $1 discount on a second can is unlikely to discourage households that genuinely need extra service.

Oiler also compared regional rates: Mapleton currently charges $11.50 for the first can; neighboring cities range from $13.50 (Spanish Fork) to about $20.60 (Provo), with Provo and Springville also operating collection services in some areas. He noted Mapleton does not provide curbside recycling collection and that adding a recycling program would affect costs.

Oiler said staff will prepare more pricing scenarios and that the council can expect a public‑hearing process in June before any rate change takes effect. He asked the council to decide within the coming one to two months so the change can be included in FY27 budget planning. "My recommendation would be that we go with option B," he said.

The item was discussed in a work session format; no formal rate increase was adopted at the meeting. The council asked staff to circulate several alternative price scenarios by email and to include comparative charts and the history of prior rate changes when the proposal returns for public hearing and a possible vote.