Nesquehoning officials are trying to lessen the financial blow to residents as projections for garbage pickup costs have doubled since the last contract was signed.

On Wednesday, borough council voted for a $5 per month increase in sanitation fees, however, they are also shifting $5 from the sewage fees to help create a buffer for future sanitation costs that will likely be incurred in 2025.

Councilwoman Abbie Guardiani said that the current contract with Tamaqua Transfer expires on Sept. 30, 2024. It was initially signed in October 2019 and cost the borough a total of $1,936,000 for five years.

However, Guardiani cited Jim Thorpe’s recent contract for sanitation that doubled since its last contract.

Tamaqua Transfer was the lowest bidder in Jim Thorpe’s proposals with a three-year contract of $2.7 million and a five-year contract to $4.6 million.

“So a five-year contract that we signed five years ago was just about $2 million. Now it is at $4.6 million,” she said.

In order to help the borough prepare for sticker shock as it begins the process for a new sanitation contract, council is shifting some funds and adding additional fees.

Guardiani cited Jim Thorpe residents seeing their bills jump from $25 a month to $50.69 per month.

“It more than doubled,” she said. “So in preparation for this so that people don’t get hit over the head with a bill in September, I’m proposing that we look at generating money into our sanitation account.”

To obtain this, residents will see a $5 increase a month in their 2024 garbage bills, but behind the scenes, the borough is taking $5 a month from the sewer bills and moving it to the sanitation fund.

“The sewer account is pretty fluid right now. They’re doing well,” Guardiani said. “Sanitation, we’re going to need help.”

By throwing an additional $10 per month per household into the sanitation fund, Guardiani estimates that the borough will generate $187,000 annually.

Council President David Hawk said that the borough is looking at around a $2 million increase for another five-year sanitation contract.

“That’s an additional $400,000 a year,” he said. “This adjustment will get us almost half of that. We will probably need to see where the bids come in next year, but at least this gives us a head start.”

Council then approved the sewer and sanitation rate adjustments for 2024.

In other budgeting matters, Councilwoman Fran Heaney said that budget talks are moving forward, however it was not ready for Wednesday’s meeting.

The borough was behind on budget preparations after longtime borough secretary/treasurer RoniSue Ahner resigned in May. Officials have been working with Lacey Gonzalez to go through the 2023 budget to see what it has and what should be prepared for 2024.

Heaney said that Lacey has been a huge assistance to the borough and expects to have the budget prepared in December.

That means a special meeting will be needed for the borough to approve the preliminary budget and then a final budget before the end of the year.