Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 29 June 2010 04:27 107.5 KISSFM
The cost of keeping the community green is going up. Vernon council has adopted new refuse collection rates, which include 25 percent hike to recycling fees. Councillor Bob Spiers was told by staff its due to higher tipping fees at the landfill, and the first increase in the contract fee since 2008. He says it's a sort of catch up, and that it's not a lot of money but people are concerned about a 25 percent increase. Recycling per home will rise from 22 to 33 dollars a year, and also includes the clear leaf and chipping programs.-----------
Don Quixote Note: Mr. Mcintyre is correct in his annual charge going up from $22 to $33 per year. (From 5.50 per quarter to $8.28 per quarter) and this is actually a 50% increase.
Agenda Package
p.353 shows this change to the bylaw and when I read this several weeks back I mistakenly assumed that the current charge was $6.50 and therefore change was about 25%. (old eyes on a computer and assuming caused me to use the incorrect 25% increase.)Garbage rates are going up from 19.23 per quarter to 24.12 per quarter which IS a 25% increase. $19.56 per year). Interestingly as I pointed out at the June meeting the Commercial Garbage rates are increasing from $71.42 to $75.00 per quarter which IS only a 5% increase. ($14.32)
2 comments:
What does RECYCLING have to do with TIPPING FEES?
Absolutely nothing!
Something smells here... that City staff report didn't explain why recycling fees should go up. Did the costs of our regional recycling program suddenly jump 50%? I don't think so.
No other community in the regional district is increasing recycling fees by 50%, so what gives?
That extra $11 per year might be chump change to us homeowners (and who doesn't want to support recycling?), but what exactly is the City planning to do with its recycling windfall of $11 per household, multiplied by all Vernon households?
Helping NORD build more recycling facilities?
Picking up more leaves? Chipping more?
What kind of catch up are we playing?
EastHill Resident is right.
The question is, it would appear that Council put their hands up to support fee hikes just because staff said so.
Reading back through this councillors comments that is the impression we get. Someone said it was needed to cover some sort of cost increase that never happened. The politicians believe the bureaucrats, and some new pet project gets funded out of this new windfall revenue source.
Maybe another sister city trip, or the Mayor's office furniture needs to be recycled into something better.
Or you could take the more sinister approach and say that they are driving the costs up to justify withdrawal from the Regional Service.
Hmmmm, this kind of thing doesn't really happen, does it???
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