New Philadelphia council asked to consider $3 per month increase to sanitation fees

NEW PHILADELPHIA ‒ Two years after the city raised monthly sanitation rates, New Philadelphia City Council has been asked to consider another increase.

Service Director Ron McAbier has requested a $3 increase, which would raise rates from $14.75 to $17.75 per month for garbage pickup. The increase would generate $280,260 annually and likely eliminate the need for another price increase for five years.

In asking for the increase, he pointed out the need for more money. The carryover in the sanitation fund was $800,000 in 2022, but it has dropped to $610,000 now. The city will likely be purchasing a new truck for the sanitation department next year at a cost of around $250,000. He anticipates an increase in the cost of diesel, and the Kimble Companies raised its recycling fee from $12,544 to $30,150. The contract with workers in the sanitation department will have to be renegotiated soon, and McAbier anticipated an additional $16,000 to $22,000 per year for wages.

"If we get out in front of this like I'd like to, I believe that it can lead us into the future without coming back to this body and asking for any more than what we have," he said.

He noted that New Philadelphia's current rate is much lower than other cities in the area. Zanesville charges $31 per month; Canton $25.57 per month; North Canton $18.06 per month; Coshocton $18.59 per month; Dover $17.99 per month; and Wooster $16.50 per month.

In 2022, city officials asked for a $1.25-per-month increase on sanitation rates, which were then at $14.25 per month. Council members balked at that. They instead agreed to a 50-cent increase.

More on sanitation rates: New Philadelphia considers sanitation rate increase

Ending curbside recycling

Several council members discussed the possibility of ending the city's curbside recycling program as a way to cut expenses and forestall a $3 increase. New Philadelphia has 7,785 garbage accounts, but only 2,051 recycle.

Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos said there are plenty of places for people to drop off their recycling. "I don't see why I should subsidize the people that put the bins out."

She added that she repurposes items instead of recycling them.

Councilman Dan Lanzer asked McAbier how long the city could go without an increase if it dropped curbside recycling. The service director said maybe two or three years.

Councilman Steve Rippeth said he would like to get public input before making a decision.

"I'd like to talk to some people and hear what people in the public have to say about the use of the curbside recycling," he said. "Obviously, our numbers show it's not as important as we thought it was to as many people as we thought it was. I agree with Mrs. Ramos, if we have an alternative to that, then maybe that's an area we look at as a way to bide us over her for awhile and utilize our resources better.

"I don't think that it's a five-year fix of the cost of our sanitation because quite frankly we're two or three bucks cheaper than anybody around us already. We're the bargain basement."

The proposed increase will be discussed during a meeting of the Public Works and Economic Development Committee at 7 p.m. July 8.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: New Philadelphia council asked to consider $3 per month increase to sanitation fees