SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - Sheboygan city leaders are trying to cut back on the city's garbage fees.
That agenda item came up for discussion at last night's committee of the whole meeting. Aldermen narrowly approved an amendment to the garbage fee on a vote of 6-5 that would cut the monthly payment to $2.50 and sunset the measure in three years.
The city currently collects around $1.1 million dollars in fees and that funding goes into the general fund, typically to pay for road projects.
Alderman John Belanger says the residents are already paying too much money. "We instituted the wheel tax, the city did that. And then we were egregiously imposed a sales tax by the county which we're getting little to no benefit from." He admits that there is a need to keep up with road maintenance, but that the city can find other funding sources. "We realize that the roads do need to be addressed, our infrastructure does need to be addressed. But I think we can do that and still reduce the garbage fee."
City administrator Darryl Hoffland says that funding is also part of the general fund, and cuts may mean loss of services. "The original intent was business as usual heading into 2017. In light of the amendment going forward to the common council for consideration new assumptions will need to be made." Hoffland says the city is currently going through the budget process and a loss in funding will have to be accounted for. "So it will come down to a discussion by the common council as they go through the 2017 budget as far as their priorities."
The current city budget is using around $700,000 of the garbage fee on road projects and the rest as general fund for other items. If the council does make the cuts to the fee, Hoffland says that could mean a $150,000 deficit in funding in the budget.
The changed garbage fees will still have to be approved by the full council before any changes are officially made.