Freeman council weighs higher garbage rates and loan to cover new truck

Councilor (Committee member) presented estimates that the new garbage truck would leave the city about $90,000–$100,000 short and said the council will need to consider borrowing to cover the balance. He offered two pricing proposals: a smaller incremental increase and a larger one intended to limit future rate hikes and borrowing. “We're gonna have to take out a loan to pay off the rest,” he said, adding that proposal 2 would produce the largest immediate revenue but would be a bigger near-term hit for some customers.

The proposer recommended eliminating the separate second-can line item and charging the same per-can price whether a household has one or multiple cans; he argued that the small monthly discount saved only about $12 a year for most households and that equal per-can pricing would increase revenue and simplify billing. Council members debated which customer groups would be most affected, noting that multi-can accounts (hospitals, schools) would pay more but also generate the most trash.

The finance discussion reviewed budget line items, tipping fees, sales-tax credits and the enterprise fund mechanics for refuse collection. Members asked staff to model the two proposals' five-year impact, including how quickly the city could avoid future borrowing for truck replacement, and to return with recommended phasing or alternatives (including contracting out the service).