St. Cloud Proposes Phasing In Fee Increases to Enterprise Funds

(KNSI) – Sewer and garbage service will cost St. Cloud residents a little more starting in 2022. On Monday, St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis gave the public its first look at proposed changes to St. Cloud’s enterprise funds. St. Cloud has proposed increases to wastewater, trash cart service and special garbage pickups.

Kleis is proposing increasing the cost for special garbage pickup from $10 to $20 per request. Garbage carts will be increased by $2.50 a month over two years. ($1.25 in 2022 and $1.25 in 2023) Kleis says it’s the first increase to the cart fee in more than 20 years. The mayor also proposes increasing wastewater fees to $1.90 per unit over four years. (2022 in $0.40 and $0.50 in 2023, 2024 and 2025)

St. Cloud is also looking at raising its street light utility fee by $0.20 a month over four years. ($0.05 a year in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025)

St. Cloud is in the middle of a downtown parking pilot program and is surveying area businesses. No changes to parking will be proposed until after the survey is completed later this year. Over the summer, St. Cloud started charging for parking on the street 24/7. Parking ramps are now free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.

No changes are being proposed to fees for the River’s Edge Convention Center and the St. Cloud Municipal Athletic Complex.

The proposed enterprise budget will be posted to St. Cloud’s website on November 8th. The city enterprise budget will be discussed with the city council on November 10th and 15th. A public hearing on proposed fee increases on November 22nd.

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