Solid-waste budget stays flat as GFL did not submit a June 1 rate notice, staff says

Finance staff briefed the council that the solid-waste fund is a pass-through account for the GFL Environmental residential and commercial collection contract and that the FY2027 budget currently does not include any rate increase because GFL did not provide the required June 1 notice. Staff said projected solid-waste revenues total about $5.4 million with expenditures about $5.1 million and that the city will analyze the fund further to confirm fund balances and potential uses.

Council members asked whether fund balances could be used to absorb a future contractor rate increase instead of passing it on to residents; staff said they would analyze fund composition and the green-fee program to determine whether that is a feasible option and would report back.