Providence's garbage fund earned $310,052 but owed the water fund $1.34 million

Providence's garbage operation ended fiscal 2025 with an operating profit and a $1.34 million balance owed to the city's water fund, according to the city's audit. ^[1]

The year's results

The solid waste fund reported $809,218 in charges for service and $499,166 in operating expenses, including $129,615 in depreciation, for operating income of $310,052. ^[1]

The audit lists the fund's expenses as $945,426 in the prior year. ^[1]

Operating activities provided $437,187 in cash. The fund also paid $376,471 for capital assets. ^[1]

Total net position rose from a deficit of $8,636 to $301,416. ^[1]

The internal balance

At June 30, 2025, the fund reported $1,342,782 due to other funds, and the culinary water fund reported $1,342,782 due from other funds. ^[1]

The cash flow statement shows the solid waste fund beginning the year with a negative cash balance of $1,403,498 and ending at zero. It shows $1,342,782 in financing from the change in interfund balances, and the opposite amount for culinary water. ^[1]

The fund's capital assets, net of depreciation, were $1,590,373. Its unrestricted net position was a deficit of $1,288,956, which the audit discloses in its note on deficit fund net position. ^[1]

The savings claim

At the Dec. 17, 2025 council meeting, auditor Mike Miles said the solid waste fund was in its first full year of independent operation. City Manager Ryan Snow said this saved residents nearly half a million dollars compared with consortium pricing. ^[2]

The council voted 5–0 to accept the audit. ^[2]