Council Votes 7-2 to Cut Trash Fee to $300

Select Board · Meeting of May 26, 2026

Beverly City Council voted 7-2 to scale back a proposed trash fee hike to $300 a year instead of Mayor Cahill's $425 plan. The vote came after more than 30 residents used a marathon public comment period to call the original 325 percent increase "a hidden tax," with resident Ed Stabler urging the city to "stop the City Hall project immediately." Budget Analyst Jerry Perry warned the lower fee leaves a $1.4 million shortfall that will likely require cuts beyond the 10-plus positions Cahill already plans to eliminate or leave vacant. Vice President Matt St. Hilaire opposed any increase, pointing instead to the roughly $30 million City Hall renovation, which City Solicitor Beth Oldmixon said has already cost the city $3.5 million.

A second, final vote on the ordinance and a June 1 hearing on a related $1.6 million bin-purchase transfer remain pending.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Beverly's community access TV: Beverly City Council meeting, May 26, 2026
• The complete report: 958 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of May 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.