Garbage Rates To Increase?

Well, it seems, according to the newspaper, that consideration is being given to the idea of raising the collection rates for garbage.  As one of the more efficient operations run by local governments I commend those responsible for the collection of garbage.

To raise the price at this time seems a very painful burden to impose on city residents and businesses.

With Obamacare about to take more from the pockets of citizens, increasing medicare with-holdings  increasing food prices and the true cost of living increasing almost daily those on fixed incomes are being asked to pay even more so others can have wages that will allow for a better lifestyle and new unneeded equipment can be purchased. 

What’s a few cents added to each customer, we are asked. Well, I agree it may not be much but then what is a few cents added to a gallon of gas? Is the money really needed by the city, I think not and here is my reasoning.

First, why is there a need to go to a completely new system when the one we have is working just fine. The cost of continuing the current system with the current machinery cannot begin to compare with the total cost of a new system requiring new trucks and new polycarts.  The only real benefit mentioned for this change would be to do away with a job in garbage collection. Now that is really something we should embrace doing away with more jobs during such high unemployment.  Many of our seniors have trouble handling the current carts and to get even bigger more awkward ones will only add to existing problems they experience.   It seems unreasonable to me, that city residents are currently paying county taxes that provide for the pick up of dead animals from around the county at no charge. While the two, county and city residents, are very different in many ways one thing they share is the dwindling population and lack of income.  

If the report in the paper is correct then there are many questions that arise about the cost. At one point it is reported that it will cost $55,000  a year for eight years which adds up to about $440,000 but later in the report it is stated that $750,000 in capital outlay notes will be needed to purchase the equipment. With interest that will be over a million dollars. So is it half a million or over a million that it will cost? Is this another case of being sold a brown milk cow only to get it home and find it’s actually a white goat.

How much does the city pay PES to handle its billing? I’ve been told over $30,000 a month, if that is correct, why? If it’s incorrect then give the correct amount. Could there not be a large savings to the taxpayer if the city handled this task. Is it true that the city under the former mayor made this deal to prop up PES when they were about to go bankrupt?

The third thing MTAS, Municipal Technical Advisory Service, recommends this change. Well, please excuse me if I cringe. MTAS is nothing but a twin of CTAS, and both are nothing more than the dummy for the cities and counties ventriloquists.  They provide a buffer between the people and the politicians allowing the local politicians to claim innocence on most all spending as the fault of either MTAS or CTAS. Neither MTAS nor CTAS are accountable to the people so they are the perfect foil to hid behind, they are asked to provide cover for the wants of local politicians who fear not being re-elected.

Contact your Alderman and ask them to vote down this unneeded expense and spare their constituents this added burden.