Noblesville Common Council Approves Trash Fee Ordinance

The Noblesville Common Council approved the city’s first trash fee ordinance at its meeting on January 26. Prior to the vote, the council held a public hearing and discussed the ordinance at its January 12 meeting and retreat on January 23. “I am pleased the ordinance passed and Noblesville may continue to move forward and address some pivotal areas like improving the downtown infrastructure and tree replacement program, increasing our support of law enforcement and their crime prevention efforts, intensifying our funding of road repaving and sidewalk repair throughout the city and replenishing the County Option Income Tax fund,” Mayor John Ditslear said. The trash fee ordinance includes a $10.57 per residence monthly charge beginning June 1, 2016 (payable after July 1). The average trash fee for Hamilton County is around $12.50 and one area requires citizens to contract their own removal. Officials said it is worth noting that homeowners will pay less with a trash fee and tax caps then they would if caps did not exist. “The fee is a way to continually reinvest in Noblesville,” Common Council President Gregory P. O’Connor said. “It is our belief by making infrastructure investments the city will be a more attractive destination for new businesses and residents alike. This investment will allow us to grow the commercial tax base and helps us avoid asking the taxpayers for additional financial support. Infrastructure is a proven economic development driver and will attract businesses and people to move to Noblesville.” The trash fee covers the actual per home cost of the city’s contract with Republic Services. Beginning with the first wastewater bill in July 2017, 2018 and 2019 the bill will increase slightly to cover the increase in the city’s contract with Republic Services, which runs through June 2020. The remaining contract prices per month are: $10.57 (July 1, 2016 to June 2017); $10.69 (July 1, 2017 to June 2018); $10.82 (July 1, 2018 to June 2019); and $10.94 (July 1, 2019 to June 2020). Reminders of the new trash fee will be included on monthly Noblesville Utilities bills. Noblesville Utilities customers who receive a $10 credit per month on their monthly sewer bill will automatically receive a 50 percent discount on their trash fee. To be eligible for the reduced rate, customers must have one of the following exemptions on their property taxes (filed with the Hamilton County Auditor’s Office): over 65 age deduction, blind and disabled deduction, or disabled veteran or surviving spouse deduction. To learn more about the property tax discount or for more information on the trash fee, visit www.cityofnoblesville.org.