Restore Yard Waste Pickup

Since our founding in 2021, Citizens for a Fiscally Responsible Belmont (CFRB) has advocated for better budgeting and smarter spending.  Yet, we oppose the decision to cut yard-waste pickup for reported savings of approximately $100,000. Our concern is not only the loss of service, but also the way the change was made; without adequate transparency, accountability, or fairness – core tenets of the CFRB mission.

Town officials have said the reduced schedule is “aligned” with neighboring communities. However, Belmont’s 15 yard-waste pickups place us last among nearby towns, which provide roughly 20 to 25 collections annually. Residents deserve transparent, accurate comparisons when service reductions are proposed.

The cut was included within the overall FY2027 municipal budget approved by Town Meeting, and residents have reportedly been told that “Town Meeting voted for this.” But Town Meeting representatives and residents should have had the opportunity to review and debate this service reduction before implementation.

Although the fiscal year begins July 1, yard-waste pickups were cut in the final week of June, surprising residents. At the July 13 Select Board meeting, town staff defended the poor communication, stating that the utility-bill insert was mailed on July 1, and suggesting that the budget vote should occur earlier. These explanations dodge accountability and fail to justify implementing a service reduction before adequately informing residents.

Any service reduction should be announced in advance through multiple channels - utility-bill inserts, social media, and local press.  Residents deserve timely notice and a customer-service mindset from public officials.

Yard-waste collection is an important municipal service, particularly for residents whose budgets preclude private landscaping. Achieving modest savings by imposing a broad service cut on residents is unfair and reflects poor governance. Belmont can and should pursue fiscal responsibility without reducing basic services in a way that leaves residents uninformed and underserved.