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Finance panel moves most garbage costs to special fund; $160 per-household charge to appear on tax bills
Summary
The Finance Committee reviewed a plan to move residential garbage and recycling contract costs into a special-revenue fund, withdraw $2 million from the general-fund levy (per state levy-limit rules) and levy a per-household charge (about $160) that will appear on tax bills for non‑prepaying households.
The Waukesha City Finance Committee on Oct. 16 recommended shifting the city’s residential garbage and recycling contract expenses into a dedicated garbage‑and‑recycling special‑revenue fund and removing roughly $2 million from the general‑fund levy to align with state levy‑limit rules.
Finance staff said the contracted cost for residential garbage and recycling is projected at about $3.2 million for 2026. Committee members and staff explained the $2 million figure reflects a statutory requirement to remove the historical levy portion tied to garbage (the baseline year cited was 2014). Joe (city finance staff) said the special‑revenue fund will show the contracted services on one line with public charges for service netting to zero in the fund’s projection.
Why it matters: moving the contract into a dedicated fund shifts the visible cost off the general levy and replaces that levy support with a user charge for households. Staff said the intended outcome is fiscal transparency and to align the fee with the actual cost of the contract while keeping the special fund balanced.
How residents will pay: staff explained that the city will place the charge on property tax bills for households that do not prepay the fee. Joe said the council intends that the charge roll to the tax bill without penalty for late payment; for 2026 the per‑household charge discussed during the meeting was roughly $160 (the committee previously discussed a $160–$162 figure). Alderman Lemke noted some households—particularly higher‑value homes—could see a net tax decrease in the first year once the garbage fee is included, but staff cautioned that rising costs could reduce that effect in future years.
What drove the change: Public Works staff said the city recently moved curbside service to a contractor (Johns), prompting an accounting shift that places contractor expenses in a special revenue fund. Public Works also said the city continues to subsidize its drop‑off center (estimated $50,000–$60,000 in 2025) and that disposal tonnage rose during flood cleanup events.
Follow up: Finance staff pointed the committee to the garbage and recycling fund pages in the budget document (special revenue section) and said further details will be available when the budget is published for public hearing. The committee set its next meeting for Oct. 28 to consider amendments before council consideration on Nov. 4.
Quotes: “The intent of the fund was just to cover the cost,” Joe said of the special‑revenue approach. Public Works staff added that moving the contract out of the general fund meant the city expects the new fund to net to zero once charges are collected.
The committee did not vote on final adoption at the meeting; members were asked to bring amendments to the Oct. 28 session and the full council will consider the operating budget on Nov. 4.
