The Columbus City Council is looking to increase garbage rates by $2 beginning Oct. 1. The increase would raise the rate from $15 to $17 and it would be the third increase in the service in three years — two by the council and one by the city’s garbage contractor, Golden Triangle Cooperative Service District. But at $17, are Columbus residents still getting a bargain?
“Most places don’t pick up the garbage twice a week anymore,” Chief Operations Officer David Armstrong said. “It’s a pretty good service for twice a week and it’s not a bad price.”
Garbage is collected in Starkville and West Point for $14 a month and $15.50 a month, respectively. But the collection in Starkville and West Point is on a once-weekly basis.
“I’m not sure when it was contracted for Columbus to have garbage collected twice a week; this was in existence before I started working for the city,” said Armstrong. “It could be a little lower if the service was only once a week, but I think it’s a good deal for the price. Twice a week is what people are used to and it’s a service they expect.”
Armstrong said the contract with GTCSD is a six-year contract with a six-month termination clause. The city’s current contract ends Aug. 31, 2017.
“There is an out clause in the contract with six months notice,” he said. “When new councils are elected, they have the option to terminate contracts. If we get a new mayor and board, they could terminate the contract July 2, 2013.
The council voted 4-2 to increase the garbage rates to help cut a budget deficit of more than $450,000. The rate increase would generate an additional $220,000. Part of the budget motion, made by Ward 3 Councilman Charlie Box, would also allow the council to dip into its reserves to balance the budget.
Although Ward 6 Councilman Bill Gavin voted against the rate hike, he said his vote was in protest of the budget overall, rather than any specific item in the budget.
“I feel like we didn’t cut enough from the budget,” Gavin said on Thursday. “I feel like there were other things we could have done. I’m totally against not having a balanced budget and taking money out of our reserves. I know we need things, but how are we going to pay for them? I’m not going to vote to adopt the current budget in this state. At some point, we are going to have to raise taxes, regardless of who is in office.”
Gavin said he recommended raising the garbage rates three years ago.
“I think what Councilman Box recommended is the fair way to increase rates,” said Gavin. “An increase in millage rates isn’t going to affect everyone in the same way. It would really hurt the businesses. I motioned to increase the garbage rates from $12 to $14 three years ago. Golden Triangle Waste Management raised them last year. I think the rate increase is in-line with other cities and it’s a fair way to increase fees.”
A spokesperson for Golden Triangle Waste Management said garbage on the north side of the city is collected on Mondays and Thursdays. Garbage on the south side of the city is collected on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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