Jan 8, 2025 By Paul Paterra 2 min read

Washington City Council will be approving changes in payment deadlines in its trash collection ordinance.

When council meets Thursday, it will be voting on an ordinance that sets the annual fee for trash collection at $300. Residents who make payments after June 1 will be assessed a $50 late fee. Beginning Nov. 1, all accounts go to collections at $350, plus penalties and fines established by the tax collection agency.

Donn Henderson, city administrator, said this action is being taken for budgetary purposes.

“You used to have to have it paid by the end of the year; now it needs to be paid by Nov. 1,” Henderson said. “We can’t really budget when people are holding on and paying at the end of the year because we don’t know how much money is coming in. I’ve got two months of collections coming in while I’m doing a budget as to how we establish a rate, so it doesn’t make any sense.”

Also on Thursday’s agenda will be a vote to change Councilman Ken Westcott’s title from finance director to chief fiscal officer. The move will be made to match changes made about 10 years ago in the Third Class City Code.

There’s no change in responsibilities, Westcott said.

Also on the agenda will be motions to hire two police officers, two firefighters and a deputy chief fiscal officer.