Finance Committee to Consider Sanitation Rate Proposal

On Monday, Council’s Finance Committee will review a proposed sanitation rate adjustment. If recommended by the committee, the proposal would be considered for adoption by Elkins Common Council before the end of 2026 and begin going into effect in early 2027.

The rates that the City charges for trash collection have not increased since 2010, despite steep ongoing increases in the cost of providing this essential service. Since 2010, the City has absorbed multiple increases in disposal costs charged by the transfer station where refuse is delivered, along with rising costs for fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment, personnel, insurance, and other operational necessities.

In 2022, the City’s Sanitation Department expanded sanitation services by introducing free monthly Bulk Pickups, allowing residents to dispose of one large item per month at no additional cost. Special Pickups remain available for a nominal fee when customers need to dispose of a larger number of items at once.

In 2025, the City completed a $1.5 million project to construct a modern sanitation operations facility, replacing outdated infrastructure and improving working conditions for sanitation employees.

According to financial analysis performed for the City by an independent accounting firm, the rates established in 2010 no longer generate sufficient revenue to cover projected operating costs, debt obligations, and capital needs. Without a rate adjustment, the sanitation utility is projected to operate at a deficit, making it increasingly difficult to maintain current service levels, replace aging equipment, and invest in the infrastructure needed to continue offering this essential service safely and efficiently.

For a typical residential customer, the proposal would increase the monthly sanitation charge from $19.54 to $26.00.

A typical business using a 2-yard dumpster with weekly collection would see its monthly sanitation bill increase from $71.15 to $94.67. The exact impact on individual businesses would would vary according to dumpster size and collection frequency.

The proposed new rates would help ensure that Elkins can continue providing reliable sanitation services by keeping pace with rising operating costs, maintaining modern equipment and facilities, and supporting the workforce responsible for collecting and disposing of the community’s refuse.

Detailed rate schedules will be made available as part of the public review process.