Garbage Rate Increase Hearing On Tap

by Contributor | October 15, 2016 9:22 pm

To The Editor:
There’s a public hearing on Oct. 18 to discuss the raising of garbage rates in the city of Fulton.

The rates purposed are to go from $51 a quarter to $63 a quarter.

That means it will go from $204 a year to $252 a year.

A sticker to use the county landfill will be only $185 a year.

I agree with the fact that the rates have to be raised to cover the increased tipping fees imposed by the county.

The problem I have is with the amount of increase suggested by the city of Fulton.

The county raised the tipping fee $10 a ton.

Now there are a few ways to figure this. Let’s take the simple one first.

All these figures are based on the city having 3,455 (information from the city assessor) households.

The city of Fulton generated around 3,100 tons (total tonnage charged to the city from the county) of garbage in 2015.

This would equate to an increase of $31,000 total to the city.

Now you divide that amount by the number of households in the city (3,455) and you come up with $8.97 increase for a year per household or $2.24 per quarter.

Now there may be other factors that enter into this equation like raises, multi-family housing, asbestos etc.

Second way is: Each average household generates around 3.22 tons of household waste a year.

City of Fulton only generates 0.89-ton of household waste a year per household given they only generated 3,100 tons for 2015.

Which would mean that a $10 increase would mean a $32.22 increase per household per year.

If you divide that by quarters it would mean an increase of $8.05 per household per quarter.

Again the other factors have to be figured in here yet.

The city is talking about increasing the garbage rates by $48 a year.

The highest increase in the above calculations is $32.22 a year.

The closest to what it should be is $8.97 a year.

An increase of $48 a year may cause undo hardship to some senior citizens who only generate maybe 1 small bag of garbage or less a week.

They also are only living here 6 or 7 months a year.

Now an $8.97 increase they might be able to live with and that would cover the cost increase imposed by the county.

Any increase is going to upset many taxpayers.

But, the alternative may cost more or be a lot more inconvenient.

I would suggest an increase of $5 a quarter making the total be $56 a quarter or a total increase of $20 a year.

This would be under the costs of a private hauler and more convenient than taking it to the landfill yourself.

Again, the city of Fulton leaders must increase the fee but not because they want to but because they have to.

I’m only asking the increase be as little as possible.

If you are concerned, go to the meeting on Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in city hall and express your concerns.

It’s your city and your bills that will be affected.

If enough people talk they may listen.

I will not be able to attend.

Frank Castiglia Jr.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/garbage-rate-increase-hearing-on-tap/

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