The assembly introduced Ordinance 2091 on Oct. 20 to amend borough code governing the community solid-waste disposal fee and scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 3.

What was introduced: The ordinance would update KGBC 08.15.040 on the disposal fee. Finance and city staff provided background showing a recent rate increase and projected ongoing contract-driven cost pressures. Assemblymembers asked whether the city expects a 5.5% annual increase tied to a contract and whether the borough should revisit how disposal fees and collection fees are allocated between residential customers and city collection services.

Key concerns: Members said the borough and city need clearer cost-of-service analyses before committing to multi-year inflation assumptions. Assemblymember Thompson urged discussion in the joint cooperative-relations committee to examine whether the borough is subsidizing city collection services and asked staff to provide a historical rate timeline and a breakdown of collection versus disposal cost increases.

Next steps: The ordinance was introduced and set for public hearing Nov. 3. Staff will provide additional documentation requested by the assembly, including historical fee changes, city contract escalation details and modeled impacts of different annual-increase assumptions.

Why it matters: Changes to disposal and collection fees affect households and businesses borough-wide and can shift costs between municipal collection programs and the countywide disposal system.

Ending: The assembly will hear public testimony Nov. 3 and expects follow-up material from staff addressing the questions raised about cost allocation and contract assumptions.