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Cumru discusses keeping refuse fee flat for 2026 as hauling contract is rebid
Summary
Administration recommended keeping the township's refuse fee unchanged for 2026 ($290 single-adult / $320 two‑plus adults) while preparing for a 2026 rebid of the hauling contract that could raise costs in 2027; commissioners discussed tiered fees, districting and possible small increases to soften future impacts.
Township administration reviewed the refuse budget and said the hauling contract (with AJ Blasinski) contains $1.1 million in expected hauling costs and must be rebid in 2026 for the 2027–2029 cycle, a process likely to produce higher bids. The current household fee structure is $290 per year for a one‑adult household and $320 for households with two or more adults.
Administration presented options including retaining the current tiered fee, returning the fee to a previous $303.30 level, flattening the rate to a single fee, or districting the township to let bids compete on smaller service areas. Commissioners generally favored retaining the tiered structure for fairness to smaller households but disagreed on whether to pre‑emptively increase fees to soften a probable large 2027 increase.
The board also discussed recycling mandates that the township must meet as a designated recycling community; administration noted leaf‑waste rules and associated program obligations. Staff said the current 2026 budget was prepared with no fee increases per board direction and that the board will revisit fees in 2026 when actual bid responses and contract details are available.
No vote to change the fee was taken; the board directed administration to prepare budget documents for upcoming meetings and to include a resolution on the December agenda for possible action on the budget and tax ordinance.
