Folsom considers ending voter say on outsourcing city services
The power to decide if Folsom’s municipal services are contracted out may soon shift away from voters.
Folsom’s 2026 Ad Hoc Charter Review Committee is considering whether to change charter language that currently gives voters final authority over selling, leasing, contracting out or franchising city-owned enterprises, instead shifting that authority to the City Council.
City Manager Bryan Whitemyer said the shift would allow for a smoother bid process with prospective contractors. He said requiring voter approval can delay decisions as costs rise.
“When you go out and you want to have a contractor provide services, we’re seeing an escalation of costs,” Whitemyer said at the committee’s meeting on Wednesday, April 1.
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This potential change comes as Folsom faces decisions about the future of its solid waste services. Whitemyer wrote in an email that the city will soon convert to an electric fleet to comply with state emissions requirements.
“This is a huge cost especially when you figure that the city will have to spend millions of dollars to build a massive charging facility to accommodate the large garbage trucks and meet the future state requirement,” Whitemyer wrote. “That cost will be borne by the Folsom (solid waste) ratepayers.”
Even without that additional cost, Whitemyer said Folsom’s solid waste rate is higher than many nearby municipalities. Folsom charges $51 a month for a 65-gallon trash can while Elk Grove bills about $36 for a 64-gallon trash can.
Folsom would like to explore whether it is cost-effective to partner with a waste management agency instead of handling garbage services itself, according to Whitemyer, who said the current requirement for voter approval makes that difficult.
“By having the current voter requirement the city will never be able to move fast enough to explore those options,” Whitemyer wrote.
One member of the charter review committee, Tom Aceituno, said he opposes the proposal. He said he is concerned about the privatization of utility services and what would happen if the change extended beyond solid waste.
“They sell it (the proposal) by saying things are gonna be cheaper, and it does go cheaper for a while, but then later on it starts costing more,” Aceituno told The Bee. “Privatization is a very serious matter when it comes to trying to move government services out, and I think people need to know exactly what that impact is gonna be.”
Folsom might not shift any of its services to a private entity, according to Whitemyer. The proposal would only allow the city to explore options through a different process.
“Removing the voter requirement to franchise services in the Folsom charter does not require the City Council to stop providing solid waste services,” Whitemyer wrote. “The council may not even want to consider it.”
Residents can attend the charter review committee’s remaining meetings, scheduled for April 30 and May 4. The city’s website will have up-to-date information about meeting times and locations.
Once the charter review committee completes its process, its proposal will go to the Folsom City Council, according to interim City Attorney Sari Dierking. From there, potential changes would go to Folsom voters in November.
This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 1:41 PM.
