The proposed garbage rate increase for Mount Carmel residents has been scaled back.
At Tuesday afternoon’s Mount Carmel City Council meeting, Garbage Commissioner Susan Zimmerman amended a previously proposed ordinance that would have increased garbage rates by one dollar this July and another dollar in July of next year.
Zimmerman told council members she now wants to move forward with only the initial one-dollar increase this year and then reassess the need for any additional increase next spring.
Zimmerman said the city will review the financial impact over the next several months before deciding whether another increase will be necessary in 2027.
Council members approved the amendment during discussion of the ordinance’s second reading.
Zimmerman also noted residents likely will not notice the increase until their August garbage bills.
Two weeks ago, Zimmerman told the council the increase was needed to help offset rising garbage contract costs and maintain services such as leaf pickup and brush pickup. Officials previously indicated the increase would provide only a narrow margin for covering future expenses.