Brookhaven aldermen are learning this year what Lincoln Countysupervisors learned last year. That lesson is garbage feessometimes have to be raised to cover rising costs of solid wastecollection services.

In all likelihood, city fathers are set to raise monthly garbagefees for twice-weekly pick up by $3 a month from $9 to $12.Supervisors last year raised the once-a-week pick up fee on countyresidents from $6 a month to $7.50 a month.

The reason for the substantial increases, unfortunately, restswith a combination of a reluctance in previous years to raise feesby smaller amounts and a state law limiting sources of solid wasterevenue.

As county officials learned last year and city officials arefinding out now, raising fees is an unpopular move.

In years past, surplus revenue was sufficient to cover solidwaste expenses. Therefore, officials saw no need — or had nodesire — to raise fees.

Now, however, with surpluses nearly depleted, officials areforced into getting residents to swallow the bitter pill of a feeincrease. Due to a 1996 law change requiring solid waste operationsto be self-sufficient, officials have few other options.

Revenue options for the city include a maximum four-millproperty tax levy, which is already in effect, and garbage fees.City officials are also planning landfill-related fee increases forcompost and private dumping, but any additional revenue from thosesources seems uncertain at best.

While they are reluctant to raise fees, aldermen are equallyreluctant to cut back on manpower or to reduce services. That couldhappen if they go with a private contractor, which the countycurrently uses.

Aldermen want to include solid waste workers in 5 percentemployee pay raise plans. If other departments’ workers receivethat amount, so should solid waste’s.

But, we seriously question some officials’ desires for largerraises in the solid waste department. Job skill requirementarguments aside, the current economic situation will not allowthem, and it appears those larger pay raise possibilities are onhold.

With disposal costs continuing to rise, the solid waste forecastis not rosy. City and county officials have some tough decisionsahead.

The tough decision for the city now is a fee increase. Foraldermen and residents to maintain the current level of service, itappears the only response is to hold their noses and swallow.