Tallahassee Reports has learned that the City of Tallahassee is projecting rate increases for city water customers and solid waste services in 2018.
For city water customers, a preliminary analysis indicates that the rate impact for residential water and sewer customers beginning in 2018 will be approximately $3.00 per month or $36.00 per year.
Small commercial bill impacts (100 cgals) are expected to be about about $5.00 per month or $60 per year.
These increases are in addition to a 2.4% increase approved for an inflation adjustment that will take effect in late 2017.
In addition, the City of Tallahassee’s solid waste rates are projected to increase by approximately 7.5% in 2017.
The City’s current solid waste rates were approved by the Commission on December 9, 2015. Due to better-than-expected results, a temporary 5% reduction in solid waste rates was enacted for the period January through December of 2016. This reduction resulted in savings to customers of approximately $1 million. On January 1, 2017, rates reverted to their previous levels.
Based upon rate study results, staff recommends that rates for all solid waste customers be increased by 2.4% effective October 1, 2017, which represents the 12-month change in the CPI during the period ended March 31, 2017. This adjustment matches the increases to be applied to electric and gas rates.
In addition, in order to address the expected shortfall in revenues for FY 2018 and subsequent years, staff recommends that commercial rates be increased an additional 2.6% effective January 1, 2018, which will result in approximately $265,000 in additional revenue on an annual basis.
TR will have more analysis of the City of Tallahassee budget in the coming days.
So we had twice a week garbage pickup, with one of those being backdoor service. Now we have once a week curbside service. Did we get a reduction of 50% in our rates? Oh i guess the recycling every week makes up the additional cost.
First they want us to conserve we do and they don't get enough money to pay for all the services so they raise the prices and were back to where we started, paying even more for city services.
Meanwhile, over at Fake News:
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/09/06/fernandez-lawyer-demands-apology-ethics-board/638009001/
So, Fernandez's son-in-law works at his laywer's firm? Shouldn't that have been a "family discount" and not an "owner's discount?"
Just another back door way to increase taxes without calling it a tax.
Maybe the City should not run anything. They are tax hogs.
Why is it that Solid Waste has Waste pro doing it for a cheaper price but they turn around and charge the customer more. They pay Waste Pro one price to pick up garbage and the charge customer another price. What about the revenue they get rom recycling. Where does this money go
It is even better.....
"The City of Tallahassee re-negotiated their contract with Waste Pro which resulted in lower rates by approximately 15% back in 2013.
However, instead of passing on any of the savings to the customer, the City of Tallahassee’s monthly rate for garbage services actually increased from $16.98 per month to a level of $17.23 per month. In contrast, the Leon Board of County Commissioners chose to pass the savings on to Waste Pro customers."
and
"Tallahassee Reports has learned that the City of Tallahassee has been transferring unused fees paid by citizens for garbage service to a reserve fund, that as of June of this year, totals $9,026,743.
According to budget documents, the reserve fund has increased from $3.9 million in June 2009 to the current level of $9 million."
http://tallahasseereports.com/2015/08/19/breaking-news-city-retains-9-million-in-excess-garbage-fees/
Two things in this city that should be run by an independent authority: the utilities and the airport. Many other cities handle it this way.
Gotta spread out the cost of solar?
Utilities should be a net-zero operation, not a revenue stream and cash cow.
Our corrupt self serving officials and their friends need a new source of revenue to enrich themselves after getting busted on all those dirty CRA deals.
The sheeple citizens and the FBI will never suspect our corrupt self serving officials of skimming money for their twisted nefarious schemes from the increases in Water & Solid Waste Rates...right?
Solid waste describes our COT budget.
Maybe the City of Tallahassee shouldn't run the utilities.