The village of Panama is expecting to see Casella Waste Services increase their rates to provide garbage pick up services for the village in October. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

PANAMA — The village of Panama is expecting to see the rate that Casella Waste Systems charges the village for garbage pick up services increase next month.

At the September village board meeting, Mayor William Schneider said as they were in the process of getting some of the garbage pick up straightened out after some areas of the village were being missed, it was brought up from Casella that there will be a four percent increase in the rate that they charge to the village in October.

“He had told us and had presented it at one time that there was going to be an increase, and we haven’t had an increase in several years,” Schneider said. “We’ve been able to keep them at bay with our services, but now with different things going on with material costs and fuel costs he said it’s going to be four percent starting in October.”

It was noted that the last time there was an increase in the garbage pick up rate was 2022. Doing the math, the board figured out it would be an extra $106 a month for them, which Schneider said sounds like a lot but would be something they would have to figure out in order to maintain their services. Schneider said the village has been able to do very well fiscally and cover their bills while continuing to provide certain services for village residents, without raising taxes or having to go over the two percent tax cap levy, and that was something they would try to continue to do.

“There are other, larger villages that have big problems with this and issues covering their costs, so I feel fortunate that we have been able to do that so far,” Schneider said.

The board discussed the possibility of switching garbage services to another company, but said they still like Casella’s services, and that the new bins were a “nice add on” for the village. It was also noted that having Casella as their service is better than in the past when people would just leave their garbage out.

Schneider said for now the village will wait and see where it goes, but if another increase is brought up after this one they may put their garbage service out to bid for other companies.

“Casella’s has done pretty good by us so far,” Schneider said.