Good question. Most municipalities award contracts to certain providers of public services such as garbage haulers for a certain period of time. The award of the contract is legal provided the awarded contract complies with requirements for a public bid. However, residents who choose to not use the services of the company that has been awarded a particular contract (garbage haulers for example) cannot be required to pay for a service that is not used. For example, some residents may choose to take their own refuse on their own to the local dump for discard.