Bellingham Select Board Votes 4-1 to Raise Trash Rates 12.5 Percent in FY2027

BELLINGHAM — July 6, 2026 — Bellingham Select Board approves 12.5 percent trash and recycling rate hike for FY2027, citing a structural enterprise-account deficit. The board voted 4-1 Monday, with member Kim O'Neal dissenting, to adopt the steeper of two options presented by Town Administrator Joe Muselin and consultant Matthew Abrams of the Abrams Group, who warned that even the smaller 7.5 percent alternative would still leave a projected deficit in fiscal year 2027. The trash enterprise account has spent more than it has taken in during four of the past five years, according to data on screen, sustained partly by a roughly $200,000 town meeting appropriation believed to have occurred in FY2023. Correcting billing loopholes for approximately 300 multi-family accounts would yield only about $40,000 in additional annual revenue at current rates — not enough to close the gap. O'Neal, who voted no, said she would have preferred the 7.5 percent option pending data on how much the loophole corrections would actually produce, while commenter Roland argued, "if you don't head this off now, in two years you're going to be saying, 'Why the hell didn't we do it right the first time?'" The board also announced the resignations of HR Director Caroline LeCroy, effective July 2, and DPW Director Jesse Ryol, whose last day is August 2.