Taxpayers in Steinbach recently received a letter in the mail about a new bylaw for residential curbside garbage collection. Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra says there is no need to be alarmed, this is not a new charge being added to annual tax bills. Rather he explains it is a renewal that is required by the province every three years.

"This is a renewal of the existing garbage service that we have within the City of Steinbach. Every three years, we need to pass a new bylaw, to authorize the amount that we are charging for garbage pickup. That is something that shows up as a separate line item on property tax bills. But there is nothing new about this, it's just continuing an existing service that we have."

Zwaagstra says the bylaw includes an increase of $3-4 per year for garbage pick-up to keep pace with rising costs, a hike that is consistent with increases in the past few years.

City council has given first reading to the bylaw. It will now go to a public hearing December 4th before being considered for final approval.

Steinbach residents currently pay $133 dollars per year for garbage pick-up. If the bylaw is approved, the rate would go up by $4 per year in each of the next three years.