Fishers City Controller Lisa Bradford delivered encouraging news to the City Council Finance Committee during its meeting Wednesday, reporting that residents are generally keeping up with their monthly trash collection payments.

While the percentage of fees collected appears to decline slightly each month, Bradford clarified that this is due to the billing cycle, which charges residents in arrears. She also noted that some delays can be attributed to mail service issues.

Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren added that the city’s customer experience team has received very few complaints. “We’re just not getting the phone calls about trash,” he told the committee.

The city launched its centralized trash collection system in mid-January under a new contract with Republic Services. The rollout appears to be going smoothly based on payment trends and minimal resident concerns.

In addition to the update on trash billing, the committee began preparations for developing the city’s 2026 budget in coordination with the mayor’s office. A series of planning meetings was scheduled:

• Thursday, August 14 at 5 p.m. – Initial budget session with a presentation from City Judge Dan Henke.

• Wednesday, August 20 at 8:30 a.m. – A high-level discussion of the 2026 budget.

• Wednesday, August 27 at 8:30 a.m. – Department heads will present and review their proposed spending plans.

• Wednesday, September 10 at 5 p.m. – Regular monthly meeting of the Finance Committee.

• Monday, September 15 – The full City Council will hold a public hearing and first reading of the 2026 budget proposal.

• October Council Meeting – Target date for final budget adoption.

Indiana law requires a city to finalize its budget by November 1, effective the following year.  If the City Council fails to meet that deadline, the city would be bound by the previous year budget.