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Council adopts fee changes: trash up ~10%, water ~8%, wastewater ~10% to support FY26
Summary
City finance director presented proposed master fee schedule adjustments to support the FY26 budget; council approved a resolution implementing a roughly 10% residential solid‑waste increase (about $2/month for one polycart), plus 8% water and 10% wastewater increases driven by cost pass‑throughs.
The city adopted a resolution to amend the master fee schedule as part of the FY26 budget process. Finance Director Wendy Badgett (speaker 7) explained the adjustments: a 10% increase to residential refuse service (estimated at about $2 per month for a resident with one poly cart), an 11% increase for commercial solid‑waste, an 8% increase in water rates and a 10% increase in wastewater rates. Badgett said the changes primarily reflect cost pass‑throughs from contract partners and annual CPI adjustments.
"The rate changes reflect passing through the Republic Service contract increases of 7% ... plus an annual 5% contractual CPI increase," Badgett said, summarizing the solid‑waste calculation. She also explained that water and wastewater increases follow cost increases from the North Texas Municipal Water District and the City of Garland for supply and treatment.
Council members discussed the drivers of the increases and noted the city has used fund balance to mitigate prior rate impacts. Mayor (speaker 1) and council said passing some costs to ratepayers was unavoidable given contract and supplier increases. The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously.
The resolution amends three sections of the master fee schedule (miscellaneous, solid waste and utilities) and authorizes fees consistent with the FY26 proposed budget packet. The council directed staff to answer further budget questions in the budget strategy sessions and to continue public communications about impacts to typical households.
