Garbage fee increase in new budget

Published 5:00 am Monday, September 10, 2001

Facing a budget deficit without it, Brookhaven aldermen are astep away from approving $3 increase in city garbage fees from $9to $12 a month.

The collection fee increase, plus some landfill-related feeincreases, was included in new revenue projections discussedThursday during a budget work session. The new fees would go intoeffect in October after aldermen approve them Wednesday duringspecial meeting to adopt various city budgets, fee increases andproperty tax levy rates.

City officials say the fee increase is needed to make the solidwaste operation, which must be self-supporting, break even as faras revenue and expenditures. That currently is not happening.

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“We’ve got a problem in solid waste,” said City Clerk IrisRudman in starting the discussion on on the budget.

The proposed budget calls for $1.12 million in revenue and $1.19million in expenditures, a deficit of $73,998. A $124,135 balancefrom this year is expected to brought forward into the new year tocover the deficit.

“It’s not going to make money,” Rudman said about the solidwaste operation. “When we raise the money, we’re spending it.”

Aldermen again discussed the possibility of seeking a contractorto handle city solid waste collection.

One suggestion was to ask solid waste company representative tomake a presentation at a future board meeting. Other possibilitywas to talk with officials in other cities to see how they handlesolid waste collection and disposal.

The two major areas of expenditures are personnel costs and thetipping fee for garbage to be carried to an approved landfill.

“What’s killing you is the payroll,” Rudman told aldermen duringthe solid waste discussion.

According to the proposed budget, $786,603 is personnel-relatedexpenditures. For garbage disposal, $213,000 is set aside fortipping fees.