Fort Dodge residents may have to pay an additional 75 cents a month to have their trash and recyclables picked up.

The monthly fee for that service has been $16.25 a month since 2014.

An increase to $17 per month is possible July 1.

“We’re a pretty economical garbage company,” City Manager David Fierke told the City Council Monday.

But during the council’s review of the proposed sanitation budget for 2026-2027, he raised the prospect of a rate increase in July to generate money to pay for trucks and equipment.

The proposed sanitation budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1 is $1,629,044. All of that money comes from fees, not taxes.

Fierke said the $16.25 monthly fee generates enough money to pay for the daily operations of collecting the trash and recycling materials. But he said the fee will not generate enough money to pay for some major upcoming expenses.

The city has three trucks that pick up the trash and recycling containers using mechanical arms. Fierke said they need to be replaced every five years at a cost of about $450,000 per truck.

He said the city will also have to buy some more of the big, wheeled garbage cans that residents have. Each resident is issued two 96-gallon containers, one for garbage and the other for recyclables. Fierke said those containers are 10 years old, and some will have to be replaced.

“We’re going to have to increase our revenue a bit to make ends meet,” he said.

Fierke said he will ask the council to consider a potential rate increase closer to the July 1 beginning of the fiscal year.

The council also reviewed these proposed budgets:

• Storm water utility — $1,601,616.

• Central garage — $266,350.

• Inspections — $200,992.

• Development services — $147,118.

• Rental housing inspections — $119,000.

• Main Street Fort Dodge — $77,837.