Fishers reader commends city government for city-wide trash contract, but questions remain about increased sewer fee proposal

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Dear Editor:

I want to commend the City of Fishers for taking on a city-wide trash contract knowing that many residents stand to save significant amounts of money. I know the Mayor and his staff have worked hard to incorporate resident feedback throughout the process, and I’ve seen firsthand how the proposed services have evolved over the last year.

Fishers also negotiated a contract where Republic Services will collect $14.39 per household per month starting in 2025, which is impressive given that it’s lower than surrounding municipalities that recently renewed their existing contracts.

In my previous letter, I raised concerns about the proposed $2 monthly trash administrative fee and asked for transparency regarding how the projected $775,992 in additional annual revenue would be spent. Residents will be billed $16.39 per month in 2025, and after significant online discussions with fellow citizens, the City posted a breakdown¹ of how the funds will be used: Salaries, Wages, & Benefits; Software & Technology; and Mailing Costs.

Breaking this down, it’s understandable that the City will need additional staff for these new services, including a single new Customer Service position costing nearly $87,000 annually, which does factor in the cost of employee benefits. However, the costs of existing staff supporting the Sewer utility, which are already funded by other sources, are also listed under the new fee.

For Software & Technology, the City states $100,500 will go toward “Munis & Citizen Self Service,” a software system already used for utility billing. Currently, Fishers pays $188,738 annually for Tyler Technologies’ platforms, including Munis. A closer look at the service agreement shows that the software components relevant to this new trash billing should not require additional licensing costs. It’s also noteworthy that the “Citizen Self Service” pre-discounted price is $12,569 per year and additional specific software modules related to utility billing only total around $13,000 per year.

Regarding Mailing Costs, most Fishers residents already receive monthly sewer bills. The printing and mailing services, handled by Doxim, is currently funded by the Sewer Fund. Since trash charges will now be added to these existing bills, the projected $370,000 in mailing costs previously covered by the Sewer Fund will shift to the trash fee – raising the question of whether residents will see a reduction in their sewer bills.

In fact, a sewer rate increase of $3 per month was introduced at the September 2024 City Council meeting. While I agree with the idea that service users should cover the costs of operations, I question whether this increase will be fully allocated to sewer initiatives. Notably, part of the funding for the new Fishers District Event Center, presented to the Council in 2022, includes $1.5 million of excess sewer fees generated from the City’s efficient operations. A $2 million Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) is factored into the new sewer rate study, so residents should understand where this money is going.

Fishers has done commendable work, but justifying the $2 trash fee and $3 sewer increase by comparing them to proposals or rates in other municipalities feels more in line with market-based pricing than cost-based pricing. While it’s expected for private businesses to maximize revenue, it’s concerning when the government adopts similar tactics. Higher fees in other cities shouldn’t automatically mean we need to raise ours.

Residents shouldn’t be forced to choose between exorbitant prices set by a duopoly with significant market control or rates bound by rigid administrative fees imposed by the government under the guise of market alignment. Instead, we should be rewarded with reduced rates that reflect the efficiencies of well-managed operations, demonstrating the true benefit of government serving the community’s best interests. Transparency must be a priority, allowing citizens to clearly see how their money is being spent and ensuring that rates are adjusted, if necessary, to match the actual costs of delivering services.

At the recent Twilight Town Hall, Mayor Fadness encouraged residents to stay “vigilant” and engage in local conversations. I encourage all residents to attend the City Council meeting on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the Fishers Municipal Center Theater, where a public hearing on these proposed rates is anticipated to be held. If you can’t attend, you can still submit comments to the Council through the City’s website.

¹ fishersin.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Billing-Operations.png

Josh Huser
Fishers