The Niagara Falls City Council is deliberating the renewal of the city’s recycling and refuse fee for the upcoming 2025 fiscal year. This fee, initially introduced in the 2019 budget, is designed to help offset the costs associated with the city’s recycling and refuse program.
Acting City Controller Maria Brown submitted an estimate to the council projecting user fee revenue of $3,985,452 for both 2024 and 2025. This estimate is based on the assumption of nearly full collection of the fee, which is currently set at $181 per year for residential properties and $225 for commercial users.
Mayor Robert Restaino noted collections have typically ranged in the 90th percentile. However, the projected costs for the recycling and refuse program are expected to reach $4,823,328 under the contract with Casella Waste Management resulting in a shortfall of $837,876.
To address this deficit, the city would need to draw from its general fund. Restaino indicated that to fully eliminate the budget gap, the council may need to consider a 17% increase in the fee, raising it to $212. The fee had remained unchanged since its inception.
Mayor Restaino pointed out that if the city had not switched waste management providers, the estimated costs for 2025 would have been $2 million higher. The recycling and refuse fee is not directly tied to the actual costs but is instead based on the number of garbage and recycling totes assigned to properties.
Eliminating the fee altogether would create a budget gap exceeding $4.2 million for 2025, according to the city.
The council has scheduled a public hearing on November 6th at 6pm to discuss the fee renewal.
Niagara Falls City Council Considers Renewal of 'Garbage Fee' for 2025, Possible 17% Increase