City staff outline proposed sanitation and recycling rate changes; ordinance stays at first reading

Mr. Dillinger, the city superintendent, told the Cullman City Council the administration is proposing modest adjustments to sanitation and commercial service charges for fiscal year 2027. He said the standard residential sanitation rate would be reduced by 42¢ per month and that, to provide curbside recycling service, the city proposes an optional $10-per-month fee for a 95-gallon recycling cart.

The presentation noted the city serves about 6,557 residential homes in the sanitation system; Dillinger said a 42¢ reduction across those accounts would equal about $33,000 a year in foregone revenue but that roll-off and commercial revenues help offset the change. ‘‘Residential recycling runs us somewhere in the neighborhood of $589,000 a year just by itself,’’ Dillinger said, arguing that an opt-in cart program with a $10 monthly charge would allow curbside recycling for those who want it while preserving an avenue to drop recyclables at the city recycling center for no charge.

Dillinger also described changes to commercial and industrial billing: a $2.44-per-month reduction for a common commercial minimum (dropping that band to $70) and roughly a 3% across-the-board increase for certain commercial and industrial accounts to cover rising fuel, labor, disposal and insurance costs, including the high cost of heavy equipment such as front-loader trucks. He said the city’s fleet costs factor into the proposed adjustments.

The ordinance setting sanitation rates (Ordinance 2026-39) was presented for its first reading only; the council did not vote on the measure tonight. City staff told the council the proposal and supporting codification sheet are available via the agenda hyperlinks and will return for final consideration at a later meeting.