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Council debates whether city should absorb Rumpke refuse rate increases
Summary
Council members asked whether the city can continue subsidizing refuse fee increases; Financial Director Masysklis said the city has absorbed raises for several years and suggested negotiating contract terms or folding the refuse fund into another fund if council chooses to underwrite future increases.
During the July 23 work session Mayor Perry asked whether the city can continue to "eat the refuse fund" and absorb higher collection costs from the expected Rumpke contract rebid. "What are our chances of eating the refuse fund?" the mayor asked.
Financial Director Masysklis replied that the city has been cushioning refuse rate increases for about four years and has historically given smaller increases to citizens than Rumpke has charged the city. He said options include negotiating service terms with Rumpke that could lower costs or eliminating the separate refuse fund and rolling refuse costs into another fund if council directs the city to underwrite more than what is collected. Masysklis recommended early negotiations and public engagement on which services residents want to retain and pay for.
The council asked staff to look into options and to begin early contract discussions; no formal decision or ordinance was made at the work session.
