Jeannette council is considering raising residential garbage rates.

Just how much remains to be seen.

The group on Tuesday discussed potential amounts with no firm decision. They could vote on the measure at a council meeting Dec. 28.

The sanitation department’s 2022 budget shows a decrease in expected net profit from $119,360 in 2021 to just under $19,000 for next year. Chief fiscal officer Ethan Keedy said increased maintenance costs and salaries factored into that, as did a $32,000 annual repayment to the capital reserve for the 2018 purchase of two new trucks that had not previously been included in the budget.

Mayor Curtis Antoniak suggested raising rates by $40 per year, increasing bills to $240 annually. The proposal would increase bills from $50 to $60 per quarter. Antoniak said he wants to find another source of revenue to help the city-funded sanitation department as well as the general fund.

“Sanitation is not a service that is provided through your tax dollars,” he said. “We’re going to attack this problem and run this as a business.”

“This is our business, we’re looking to make a profit, because I’m telling you we need extra tax money, we can’t raise taxes,” he said.

Fire Chief Bill Frye said the city’s residential makeup is about 60% rental units.

Other council members seemed to prefer an idea floated by foreman Rich Ault — to spread the increase over several years.

“Yeah, I like that better,” Councilwoman Robin Mozley said. “Even if it’s only a couple bucks, what if people don’t have it, especially at at one time? I just don’t want to ding the residents so hard.”

Both she and Councilman Chuck Highlands said they weren’t opposed to an increase in rates.

“I don’t dispute what you’re looking to do,” he said. “I’m looking at the impact.”

Residents must purchase city-sold bags for disposing of trash or stickers to put on other trash bags. The costs of those will be examined by officials before the Dec. 28 meeting, in addition to commercial trash rates.

City Treasurer Jacob Milliron said he would have time to print new bills to send out in January if council made a decision at its meeting later this month.

Residential and commercial garbage rates were both increased in 2020. City officials then cited rising costs.

Other area municipalities work with a contractor for sanitation services. In Penn Township, the cost is $52 per quarter plus $3 per household for hazardous and e-waste pickup. Latrobe’s cost is $67.32 per quarter plus a city-sold sticker affixed to the bag.

North Huntingdon residents pay $65.67 per quarter and Hempfield residents pay $55.50 per quarter.

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