AMSTERDAM - Town residents may face a new fee for trash removal next year, town officials said this morning.

The cost of trash disposal has about quadrupled in the past 10 years, Supervisor Thomas DiMezza said. The town has paid about $388,000 per year for trash disposal. The bill is expected to exceed $400,000 this year.

With costs rising, DiMezza said residents may face either a town property tax or an annual fee of $150 to cover the service.

DiMezza said he would prefer a $150 fee paid by users of the disposal service. With a fee, only those who use the service would have to pay. A property tax would affect all town residents.

"The people who will be paying [the fee] are the people who use the service," he said.

DiMezza said based on the rapidly increasing cost of disposal, he sees $150 as a reasonable request to make of town taxpayers, given they now pay no town property taxes or any fees for trash disposal.

The proposed fee was included in the 2010 budget. The budget stands at about $3.6 million and would decrease spending by about $8,000 over this year's budget.

Town Councilman Kenneth Krutz said he understands the need for some sort of revenue stream to cover the cost of trash disposal.

"There has been a huge increase in the cost," he said. "There is no question about that."

Krutz said he hopes the $150 fee can be reduced or eliminated before the budget is finalized.

"I'm hoping we can look at some things in the budget and if not eliminate [the disposal fee], at least lower it somewhat," he said.

Krutz said he has examined the budget and has found a few expenses that might be cut, which he plans to suggest to DiMezza and his fellow council members. Krutz said the next budget meeting will be Nov. 2.

Kayleigh Karutis can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com.