Macclenny will raise garbage rates

Macclenny will raise garbage rates

By MELISSA BURNSED

MACCLENNY, FL - Rising costs for waste disposal, fuel, maintenance and new equipment have all contributed to a deficit in the City of Macclenny’s solid waste disposal department. The City Council had discussed ways to eliminate the budget shortfall at an earlier meeting and directed staff to come up with options and hard numbers. Contracted municipal engineer Frank Darabi presented the council with three incremental options at their regular meeting Tuesday evening.

The proposed new rates included hikes of $1.50, $2.00 or $3.00 for twice-weekly residential pickups. Commercial customers would be assessed compatible rate hikes based on the size of 

Contracted municipal engineer Frank Darabi presented the council with three incremental options at their regular meeting Tuesday evening.  File Photo

their dumpsters and the frequency of pickups

Darabi reviewed the three alternatives and how much revenue each would produce over the next seven years. His recommendation was to go with the smallest initial increase of $1.50, which would raise the rate to $13.82 monthly.

"We don’t want to overburden our residents. This increase is reasonable and appropriate. It will allow us to convert down the road in the future to once weekly with special containers after we educate the public," he said.

He added, "Our garbage rates have been well below others for a long while."

The council voted unanimously to enact the recommended rate increase. Solid waste customers will see the new garbage rates, beginning July 1. The increase will affect both curbside residential and commercial dumpster city customers.

In a related item the council also followed Mr. Darabi’s recommendation to increase water and sewer development fees within the city limits. The funds are used for the expansion of existing capacity and should supply the needed revenue for the next few years.

"This will keep the departments on firm financial footing and ensure that existing customers don’t pay for new development demands…It will have no impact on existing residents or on those who have exercised the pre-pay reservation option," he said.

The increases are $750 for water and $250 for sewer within the city. Outside city limit’s, the increases will be factored at one and a half the regular rate.

"State and federal cutbacks on revenue sharing have left us very little choice," said City Mayor Gary Dopson before the council voted for approval.