CLEVELAND -
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Beginning in January, Cleveland residents may have to pay a monthly fee for home garbage collection.
Faced with a proposed budget deficit of $30-50 million dollars, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has asked City Council to approve a trash fee to try and help the city balance its budget.
The monthly fee of $9.25 would equal about $110 a year. According to Council President Martin Sweeney, the trash fee would be collected on a monthly basis through the water bill.
Although many other Ohio cities charge anywhere from $5 to $15 a month, Clevelanders currently do not have to pay any fee for trash collection.
"It's not an issue of fairness or imposing on people who can't afford it. We currently pay $27 million a year for our waste disposal division," said City Finance Director Sharon Dumas.
The proposed legislation will be introduced at Monday's City Council meeting. Council members say until the details of the legislation are worked out, it's too early to tell exactly what penalties will be incurred if residents do not pay the trash fee.
The trash fee legislation is one of more than 175 budget-balancing suggestions presented to the Mayor by an independent consulting group. If implemented, the Mayor estimates the garbage fee would bring in approximately $13 million a year.
"I think it's crazy. People are in bad shape now," said Cleveland Resident Tommie Washington.
"For me, it would be an added expense I can't afford and I think most of the people around here couldn't afford it," said Marge Gamber.
If approved, the trash fee hike will take effect January 1st.
Faced with a proposed budget deficit of $30-50 million dollars, Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson has asked City Council to approve a trash fee to try and help the city balance its budget.
The monthly fee of $9.25 would equal about $110 a year. According to Council President Martin Sweeney, the trash fee would be collected on a monthly basis through the water bill.
Although many other Ohio cities charge anywhere from $5 to $15 a month, Clevelanders currently do not have to pay any fee for trash collection.
"It's not an issue of fairness or imposing on people who can't afford it. We currently pay $27 million a year for our waste disposal division," said City Finance Director Sharon Dumas.
The proposed legislation will be introduced at Monday's City Council meeting. Council members say until the details of the legislation are worked out, it's too early to tell exactly what penalties will be incurred if residents do not pay the trash fee.
The trash fee legislation is one of more than 175 budget-balancing suggestions presented to the Mayor by an independent consulting group. If implemented, the Mayor estimates the garbage fee would bring in approximately $13 million a year.
"I think it's crazy. People are in bad shape now," said Cleveland Resident Tommie Washington.
"For me, it would be an added expense I can't afford and I think most of the people around here couldn't afford it," said Marge Gamber.
If approved, the trash fee hike will take effect January 1st.
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