Town manager outlines cost of twice-weekly trash pickup; estimated tax impact

Town Manager Williams presented figures on a citizen-proposed twice-weekly trash pickup plan that surfaced during a recent candidate forum. He said the town's current contract provider could not accommodate the change and that twice-weekly pickup for six months would cost roughly $180,000 — about a 2¢ increase in the town's tax rate — based on monthly estimates of roughly $30,000.

"Trash collection is roughly between 350 and $380,000 a year... if the town were to add twice a week pickup for 6 months out of the year, you'd be looking at roughly a $180,000. That would be roughly equal to a 2¢ tax increase," the town manager said. Commissioners asked whether the idea came from an underlying problem or was simply a public suggestion; the manager said the request was citizen-generated and gained some traction on social media.

No motion was made to change service levels; the manager said staff would provide numbers for the elected board and that any change would require a funding decision by the town.