Slidell Trash and Tap Water on the Line as Voters Weigh Tax Renewals
Slidell residents heading to the June 27 ballot will find two familiar-sounding items that could quietly decide how much they pay for basic services. City leaders are pushing a pair of millage renewals designed to help keep water, sewer and residential garbage bills from spiking. Officials are stressing that these are renewals, not new taxes, and say the property tax support allows the city to hold the line on utility rates and preserve current levels of service.
According to the city’s official notice on Facebook, voter approval would keep existing funding in place for water, sewer and residential garbage collection for people who live inside the city limits, without cutting services, per the City of Slidell. City officials also warn that if voters reject the measures, the city may have to choose between higher service fees and reduced garbage pickup.
What the Measures Pay For
One of the renewals is tied to funding water and sewer services. The other helps cover residential garbage collection for households inside the city limits. In its most recent annual financial report, the city reports roughly $1.47 million in property tax revenue dedicated to sewer maintenance, along with a 4.00-mill levy specifically for garbage collection. That same report shows the city bills residents about $13.51 per household for garbage service while paying around $22.88 per household to its sanitation contractor, a difference that is covered in part by the millage, according to the City of Slidell annual financial report.
In practical terms, that gap is why city leaders argue the renewals matter. Without the property tax support, either the contractor gets less or residents pay more, and no one at City Hall is pretending there is much slack in the system.
Mayor’s Message and City Warning
Mayor Randy Fandal appears in the city’s social media post to drive home a simple talking point: these measures are “not a new tax,” but a continuation of existing millages. The administration frames the ballot question as a yes-or-no decision on renewing money the city already depends on to balance its utility and garbage budgets, per the City of Slidell.
The same post cautions that a “no” vote could mean the city has to raise water and sewer fees, scale back garbage collection, or both. In other words, residents who like their current pickup schedule and utility bills may want to pay close attention to the fine print on this ballot.
When and How to Vote
The two millage renewals are scheduled to appear on the June 27, 2026 municipal general election ballot, according to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Only voters who live within Slidell city limits will see the measures and decide their fate.
Residents can look up their polling locations and view sample ballots through the St. Tammany Parish Registrar of Voters, which lists official dates, locations and other election details.
City officials say a “yes” vote on both renewals would keep the current funding structure in place, allowing Slidell to maintain existing water, sewer and garbage service levels. Voters who want to dig deeper into the numbers and language can check the city’s full notice on the municipal website, review the social media post, and consult the annual financial report for fiscal breakdowns. Questions about the ballot items or how they might affect individual bills can be directed to the city or the parish registrar.
