Garbage rates in the City of Bradford will go up in the new year.

Passed on first reading by Bradford City Council on Tuesday was an increase of $1.50 a month to $24.50 for residential users, for an average of six bags. The base fees for commercial accounts will increase to $24.50 for one weekly pickup, $49 for two, $73.50 for three and so on.

When asked if the increase in garbage fees was related to attempts to mitigate a tax increase in next year’s budget, Mayor Tom Riel said no. He explained prior to the meeting that rising costs made the move necessary.

“The cost of a garbage truck is now roughly around ⅓ of $1 million,” he said.

Tipping fees at the McKean Landfill are being raised by owner Casella, too.

“Not to mention it costs us over $100,000 each year just to give our contractual wage to the union employees,” Riel said, adding that the costs of fuel must be taken into consideration.

The budget was passed on first reading last month, with a .47 mill tax increase, the first increase since 2019. Council said they planned to continue working on it, attempting to lower or do away with any increase.

Before the meeting Tuesday, the mayor said it was still a “work in progress.”

At the first reading of the budget last month, Riel explained one mill brings in about $170,000 in taxes to the city. The increase is due largely to rising costs across the board.