The Dearing City Council voted Monday night to pay for a $35,000 shortfall owed to the Water and Sewer Commission of the city of Thomson.
Revenue from inside the Dearing city limits has not been enough to cover the cost of maintaining the sewer system.
The $35,000 shortfall will be paid from the general fund of the City of Dearing.
"We don't have any other source of revenue to pay it," said Dearing Mayor Ralph Menees.
After considering the possibility of a significant rise in sewer rates inside the city limits, the council decided that was not the best option. They then approved another plan to pay for next year's shortfall.
Under the plan, Dearing residents will no longer receive free garbage pickup.
Pending final approval of the council's plan by the city of Thomson, a new line would appear on Dearing residents' water and sewer bills to include $12 for trash collection.
"It's not definite," Mr. Menees said. "We may have to send that bill out separately ourselves, and have them pay it at our office if we can't come to an agreement with the city of Thomson on it."
Mr. Menees is currently in the process of making sure all of the water and sewer customers in Dearing are also trash customers.
A further study will also be done to ensure that the plan will cover the shortfall next year.
