Healdsburg Trash Bills Could Increase Again

Healdsburg residents could soon be paying more for trash collection–again.

The Healdsburg City Council on Tuesday will consider a rate increase of nearly 2 percent.

The request for the increase was made on July 31 by Redwood Empire Disposal, the company that collects trash in Healdsburg. The company said its costs had increased anywhere between 1.6 percent and 3.3 percent for labor, fuel, vehicle replacement and expenses, and other areas.

"When taken as a whole, compared to the total cost of collection, the calculated [Refuse Rate Index] increase for the collection component is 1.49 percent," a city staff report states. "After applying the 10 percent franchise fee, the average increase of residential rates is 1.72 percent."

Under this proposal, a 20-gallon can would cost $9.06 instead of $8.91; a 35-gallon can would cost $12.70 instead of $12.49; a 60-gallon can would cost $19.04 instead of $18.72; and a 90-gallon can would cost $26.24 instead of $25.77.

City staff say the request is fair under the city's contract with Redwood Empire Disposal. If approved, the increase would go into effect Wednesday, and the company couldn't request another increase until Sept. 1, 2014.

Trash rates increased about 4 percent last year.

--

Healdsburg City Council Meeting
6 p.m. Tuesday
City Hall - Council Chamber
401 Grove Street

--

What do you think of this increase? Tell us in the comments section below.