PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Word is spreading across Port St. Lucie after city leaders decided how to return a $24 million settlement from the city’s former trash hauler to residents.

The Port St. Lucie City Council voted Monday night to distribute the money through property tax credits rather than sending checks in the mail.

The settlement was paid to the city by Waste Pro, the city’s former trash collection company. The city sued Waste Pro after years of unreliable service, and the two sides nearly went to trial before reaching a settlement.

During Monday night’s meeting, some residents pushed for direct checks they could cash and spend however they wanted. But city leaders raised concerns about the cost of printing and mailing thousands of checks, along with the possibility of checks being lost or stolen.

Instead, roughly 95,000 eligible properties are expected to receive a tax-roll credit.

Some residents also brought up concerns about the city’s current trash service, including calls for twice-a-week pickup. Port St. Lucie’s current trash hauler is FCC Environmental Services.

There was some discussion about whether part or all of the $24 million could be used to fund a second weekly trash collection day. But council members said that would only be a short-term fix. Once the settlement money ran out, the city could be forced back to once-a-week collection and might have to revisit the trash contract again.

City leaders ultimately rejected that option.

Council members also emphasized that none of the settlement money will go into the city’s general fund. Instead, the money is expected to go back to residents through the property tax credit process.

According to the city’s proposal, about 57,000 homeowners who remained at the same property since the 2022 tax roll would receive an estimated $364 property tax credit. Roughly 38,000 other eligible properties, including newer properties and those approved through an eligibility claims process, would receive an estimated $64 credit.

The decision follows years of frustration from Port St. Lucie residents over missed and unreliable trash pickups under Waste Pro.