Residents of unincorporated Salt Lake County and Taylorsville will get an increase in their garbage pickup fees.
The County Commission voted Monday to increase the annual rates from $81 ($6.75 per month) to $114 ($9.50 per month). Deputy Public Works Director Mike Reberg said the hike reflects the increase in tipping fees at the county landfill implemented four years ago. The county has subsidized garbage fees since then, he said."We're at a point now where we've dipped enough into the reserves," Commission Brent Overson said.
The increase is effective immediately, though residents won't be billed until receiving their property tax notices.
Sanitation Department Director Steve Barth said the actual cost of providing residential service is $9.45 per month, meaning residents are being subsidized to the tune of $2.70.
Commissioner Mary Callaghan voted against the rate hike without comment. Upon being questioned after the meeting, she said the 40 percent increase is too much because the tipping fee increase was only 15 percent.
Overson said the surplus is to cover inflation costs since the tipping-fee increase, as well as expanded garbage pickup and landfill services.
Commissioner Randy Horiuchi said even with the increase, county garbage pick-up fees will not be out of line. Salt Lake City charges $12 per month, West Valley City $9.50, Draper $10 and Sandy $9.30.
Two residents spoke against the increase at a public hearing Monday: Herriman Community Council Chairman Marion Millett and Bob Fisher, who speaks at most commission meetings on various topics.