Senior Garbage Rates Going Up??

     A City of Canton council  member has proposed an increase in the senior garbage rates from $7.50 per month to $10.00 per month.  The proposed increase will bring the senior rate to the amount charged to the City by Waste Management for senior garbage collection.  This is a small increase, but coupled with other proposed increases, especially water and sewer fees, just adds to the monthly cost of our seniors, most of whom are on a fixed income. 

     For the first six months of this fiscal year, the City received a total of  $571,622 from garbage collection fees.  The City paid Waste Management and other expenses associated with garbage collection a total of $496,301.  The City had $75,321 in revenues above expenses for the first six months of this fiscal year.  Projecting this out through the end of the fiscal year, the City should have revenues of more than $150,000 above expenses for our sanitation fund.

     So, I guess my point is this.  Do we really need to gouge our seniors with this mediocre $2.50 per month increase in garbage fees?  This $2.50 per month is predicted to bring in an additional $36,000 per year to the City coffers.  We are already gaining an estimated $150,000 from garbage fees above our expenses.  I don't think we need to do this at this time, especially with water and sewer rates going up more than most of us would like.