Springfield trash fee hike helps reopen library branches

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Something different at Monday's Springfield City Council meeting: people applauding when the council approved a hike in the annual trash fee.           

By a vote of seven to four, Springfield's annual trash fee is going up $15.

The reason there was so much enthusiasm was the addition of a $5 hike on top of the mayor's $10 hike will go to reopen three Springfield library branches. The branches had to be closed because of budget constraints. Those $5 add-ons... add up.

Springfield Finance Director Timothy Plante told 22News, “It generated about $200,000 in additional revenue. Then we would reduce what we appropriate to the DPW for trash removal services, and appropriate $200,000 additional thousand dollars to the library."

Molly Fogarty, the Springfield Library Director, said, "We need to reopen the libraries.  And we'll make that a priority.  Post the positions.  We'll recruit people, interview, and hire as quickly as possible."

The $5 add-on for the libraries was the brain-child of City Councilor Timothy Alan. The trash fee will increase from $75 to $90 per year.