A public hearing is scheduled during Thursday's Town Council meeting regarding a proposed garbage fee. The town never has charged residents for the service, Town Manager Steve Kil said.
The tab for picking up residents' garbage is about $900,000, a cost covered entirely by the town's general fund, he said.
"We're at just under a million a year," he said. "It's a lot for the general fund to pick up. We've done it as long as we possibly could."
If the Town Council adopts the ordinance Thursday, billing could begin early next year, as a line item added to the monthly water bill. The cost would be $15.82 per month per household, an amount that would increase to $16.61 in May 2010, per the town's contract with Allied Waste, once known locally as Illiana Disposal, Kil said.
"The garbage fee is designed to offset the exact cost to the town per household," he said.
Passing the fee on to residents provides relief to the general fund and allows the town to balance its budget. St. John already made spending cuts, which included cutting two employees.
"The Town Council wanted to reduce spending as much as possible before any increase in revenue was entertained," he said.
The possibility of imposing a garbage fee has been discussed extensively in the past, he said.
Earlier in the year, the Town Council considered a fee. In March, the council unanimously denied an ordinance that would put it into effect.
In October, Councilman Mark Barenie explained the town's need to close the gap on a budget deficit. Reducing expenses and increasing revenue was the solution.
Kil said that to the best of his knowledge St. John would be the last Lake County community to impose a garbage fee on its residents.
"I think people understand that trash collection costs have risen," he said. "For the most part, they knew that, sooner or later, they'd have to pay for garbage. I think it's something people actually expected."
Kil said the fee is "absolutely necessary."
Thursday's meeting, which is the last Town Council meeting of the year, begins at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 10955 W. 93rd Ave.
Okay in August it was $750,000, in October it was $750,000, now in December its $900,000. They add $150,000 onto the amount to make up for budget shortfalls? Give me a break. Just so you know I did some research and we will be paying the 2nd highest garbage fee in Lake County if this passes as status quo. Be at the Town Council meeting!!!!
These numbers below are from August of this year. PORTER COUNTY Chesterton - Able Disposal; $10.50 per month Hebron - Allied Waste; $14.60 per month Kouts - Allied Waste; $8 per month trash only; $11.45 for trash and recycling Portage - Municipal; $5 per month, but likely to rise to $12 per month with a discount to $9 per month for senior citizens Valparaiso - Municipal; $9 per month for one 96-gallon container, $6 for each additional container with a limit of four
LAKE COUNTY Cedar Lake - Allied Waste; $15 per month Crown Point - Allied Waste; $13.26 per month (recent increase from $9.75 per month) Dyer - Allied Waste; $13.05 per month (recent increase from $9.25 per month) East Chicago - Municipal; no fee information Gary - Municipal; no fee information Griffith - Allied Waste; $11.50 per month Hammond - Municipal; $15 per month Highland - Allied Waste; $13.39 per month, $12.39 for senior citizens Hobart - Municipal; free, but contemplating charging residents Lake Station - switching from private hauler to municipal service; $12.50 per month Lowell - Allied Waste; $13.74 per month, but town subsidizes 70 cents per month per pick up Merrillville - Allied Waste; $14.50 per month, $13.50 for senior citizens Munster - Able Disposal; $19 per month New Chicago - Able Disposal; $9 per month, subsidized by town (recent increase from $7.50 per month) St. John - Allied Waste; no charge Schererville - Allied Waste; $15.09 per month Whiting - Municipal; no charge Winfield - Allied Waste; $14.17 per month
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