A public discussion about West Lafayette’s city budget and the first vote on a proposed “pay as you throw” trash billing system are on the agenda for today’s city council meeting.

The proposed metered trash billing system would raise the flat trash pickup rate from $9 to $10 a month. For that fee, each single-family household would be issued 52 stickers over the course of a year, each one good for pick up of a 32-gallon trash container.

Additional stickers could be purchased for $3 apiece. Containers without stickers would not be picked up.

Large items, such as couches, would require four stickers for city removal.

Although there will be a public hearing about the proposed city budget, which at $18,483,922 is about $546,000 more than this year’s budget, the council won’t vote on it. The final budget vote is scheduled for Oct. 29.

The estimated 2010 property tax rate is $0.8424 for $100 of net assessed value, up from this year’s rate of $0.8165. Under the estimated 2010 tax rate, homeowners whose houses have a net assessed value of $100,000 would pay $842.40 in city property taxes, an annual increase of $25.90 or 3.2 percent.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in city hall, 609 W. Navajo St.

STAFF REPORT • October 8, 2009* The Journal and Courier