Homeowners in Reno will see a significant increase in their monthly utility bills starting April 1, following a City Council decision to nearly double franchise fees for waste collection. The move, aimed at stabilizing a looming $24 million budget deficit, marks the first major adjustment to the city’s sanitation contract in over a decade.
The Financial Impact on Homeowners
Under the new measures approved by the Reno City Council, the franchise fee paid by Waste Management—the city’s contracted sanitation provider—will jump from 8% of gross revenue to 14%. Because these costs are passed directly to the consumer, residents will experience a 6% surcharge on their existing service rates.
According to internal city documents, the monthly impactdepends on the size of the resident’s collection cart:
- Standard Service: Estimated increase of $2.59 to $3.18 per month.
- Annual Total: Residents should expect to pay between $30 and $40 more per year, depending on their specific service tier and additional disposal options.
Bridging the Budget Gap
City officials defend the hike as a necessary fiscal correction. Reno is currently projecting a $24 million budget shortfall for the 2027 fiscal year. The 6% fee increase is expected to generate approximately $5.5 million in new annual revenue for the city’s general fund.
This revenue stream complements previous cost-cutting measures, including the freezing of 20 vacant city positions and various service reductions, which have already saved the municipality an estimated $16 million…