Lewiston council approves $1 monthly increase for garbage pickup to cover higher contractor costs

The Lewiston City Council voted unanimously on July 21 to raise the monthly garbage collection fee by $1 per can, a change the mayor said matches a roughly 4% increase in contractor costs.

The chair opened a public hearing on the proposal, telling residents that the contractor’s costs had risen and “we were told that our garbage collection cost went up 4%, and so we just need to make sure that we’re staying up with that.” Residents asked whether the billing cadence would change; councilors clarified that the company bills monthly and that the city aims to keep the garbage fund from drawing on property tax revenue.

After a brief public comment period, a motion to close the hearing and a separate motion to add the $1 increase to the master fee schedule passed by roll call. Council conducted a roll‑call vote with members registering yes; the chair announced, “The motion carries unanimously.”

The council said the increase is intended to keep the dedicated garbage fund solvent and to cover tipping fees and contractor charges rather than to generate revenue. The chair noted a small reserve will be maintained for equipment replacement (trash cans) and that the council does not intend to “make money” from the fee.

The fee change will be reflected in the updated master fee schedule and implemented per the municipal billing process. No effective date was specified at the hearing.