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Franklin staff recommend rate path to keep sanitation fund self‑sustaining; board debates senior relief and diversion
Summary
Staff presented five options for sanitation residential and commercial rates, recommending an option that phases increases and includes commercial tipping‑fee adjustments and a capital cap to keep the sanitation fund self‑sustaining; board members pressed on impacts to fixed‑income seniors and diversion strategies.
City staff presented a sanitation and environmental services (SCES) cost‑of‑service update and five rate scenarios at the April 14 work session, saying the fund must remain self‑sustaining as landfill and hauling contracts rise. Skyhart, the management fellow, and Nate Ridley (SCES) reviewed operations statistics (more than 2.2 million collection stops and 74,000+ transferred tons in the last year) and detailed contract shifts that will increase disposal and hauling costs beginning July 1, 2026.
Staff said commercial tipping fees are proposed to rise (a $5 increase next year to $70/ton and smaller annual increases thereafter) and presented five residential options ranging from no change to a multi‑year staged increase with a capital replacement cap. Option Five — the staff recommendation — phases rate increases and, in the presentation, included a capital management approach that limits annual replacement capital requests (the slide package showed a $1 million annual cap in one variant) so rates remain stable while meeting equipment replacement needs.
“Those rate increases are largely inflationary and reflect contract cost increases and capital needs,” Skyhart said. City leadership emphasized the policy choice: either continue subsidizing sanitation from the general fund or price service to cover projected costs. The city administrator recommended moving forward with the Option Five approach to protect general fund flexibility for public safety and parks.
Aldermen raised affordability concerns for fixed‑income seniors and asked staff about existing relief programs. Staff said an existing property‑tax relief program qualifies a small number of applicants and that qualified participants receive sanitation relief; the board asked staff to improve outreach about that assistance and to explore other targeted relief or rate design options. Several members urged continued emphasis on diversion (recycling and glass/cardboard drop‑offs) to reduce landfill tonnage and long‑term disposal costs.
Next steps: staff will continue budget preparation, refine the revenue projections and return with recommended ordinance language if the board chooses to adopt a multi‑year rate plan. No final rate ordinance was passed at the April 14 work session.
