Taking out the trash in Fort Dodge costs more than $1 million.

The city’s sanitation budget, which pays for solid waste and recycling collections, typically is over $1 million.

City Council members learned Monday that the proposed sanitation budget for 2025-2026 is $1,492,100.

All of that money comes from fees residents pay to get their trash and recyclables picked up.

The proposed sanitation budget is down from the current figure of $1,787,975.

City Manager David Fierke said the reduction is possible in part because of some retirements in the sanitation division of the Public Works Department. The people replacing those retirees will be paid entry-level wages which are lower than the wages that the retirees were earning, he said.

The sanitation budget includes money to replace some of the large bins people can place cardboard in at the city’s central garage and other locations.

In other budget proposals, the city may hire another inspector who would have two principal duties. The inspector would check drains in businesses, especially restaurants, for fats, oils and greases that could plug sanitary sewer lines. The individual would also check to make sure that backflow preventers are in place on commercial water service lines.

No final decision has been made on adding this position. Doing so would require including money in the budget, plus action by the council to create the position.

The inspection budget proposed for the next fiscal year is $389,003.

The council on Monday also reviewed these budgets.

Storm water utility

Property owners pay a monthly fee into the city’s storm water utility fund based on the amount of impermeable surface on their land. Those surfaces are things like roofs, sidewalks and driveways that cannot absorb rain water.

Jeff Nemmers, the city’s finance director, said the utility pays off bond debts incurred to pay for major storm sewer projects.

The proposed storm water utility budget for 2025-2026 is $1,361,067.

Central garage

The city’s central garage at 3001 Eighth Ave. S. is the base for the Public Works Department. Other city vehicles are also maintained there.

The proposed budget for the central garage is $442,850.

That’s up from the current $329,850.

Municipal Building maintenance

The proposed budget for keeping up the Municipal Building at 819 First Ave. S., is $153,227.

That’s up from the current $71,917.

The budget includes $2,000 for a software update for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Development services

The development services budget covers planning, zoning and economic development.

The proposed budget for those services is $284,495.

That’s up from the current $118,360.

Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District

The Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District is a roughly 33 block area in downtown Fort Dodge in which property owners pay an extra tax to fund projects there.

The proposed budget for 2025-2026 is $83,423. Most of that money, about $75,000, would be used to run the Main Street Fort Dodge program.

Commercial Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District

This district is located along Fifth Avenue South. Property owners there pay an extra property tax to pay for snow and ice removal on sidewalks and maintenance of landscaping.

The proposed budget is $45,000, which is unchanged from the current fiscal year.