Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
See How High Your Garbage Rates Will Rise Under 5-Year Fresno Plan
By admin
Published 1 year ago on
December 15, 2023

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The Fresno City Council voted to start the process to raise trash rates.

At Thursday’s meeting, the 5-2 vote starts the “Prop. 218” process. Fresno trash rates have not increased since 2009. The city has added 16,000 new accounts since then.

The proposed rate increase for solid waste will be gradual for a five-year period from 2024 through 2028. Customers with a 64-gallon gray trash cart will see a 114% increase (now $19.20 to $41.21 per month by 2028). The larger 96-gallon cart will see a 78% increase (now $25.37 to $45.24 in 2028).

Prices for additional carts would also increase.

Source: City of Fresno (GV Wire)
Source: City of Fresno (GV Wire)

Annalisa Perea, Mike Karbassi, Tyler Maxwell, Garry Bredefeld, and Nelson Esparza voted yes; Miguel Arias and Luis Chavez voted no.

The city will send protest cards to 119,000 residential trash customers — trash, recycling, sewer, and water are on the same city bill — by March 18, 2024. If a majority of customers return the cards — in essence, a veto —the rate hikes won’t take place.

The city said it would provide additional outreach to ratepayers.

Based on the result of the protest vote, the council would officially consider adopting the new rate hike on May 2, 2024, with the rates taking effect on July 1.

Public Utilities director Brock Buche told the council that increases in almost all aspects of trash collection service — new equipment and trucks, fuel, labor, state mandates, landfill fees — combined with no rate increases in 14 years required the city’s request now.

The solid waste division is part of a city “enterprise” fund, meaning its revenues are mainly from customer fees, and does not receive general city funds. The department can only charge for actual costs and is not allowed to profit.

Staff and service cuts could result if the hikes aren’t approved, Buche said.

“That’s a possibility. But (I) would be fighting very hard that we’re not eliminating staff. But if it comes down to it, … that’s a possibility,” Buche said.

Dipping into the general fund could be an option, which appeared to be a non-starter for councilmembers.

A $50 Million Shortfall

The city said there would be approximately a $50 million shortfall over five years without a rate increase.

Consultants tell the city that reserves — which the department has been using for the last four years — will be depleted this year. Buche said reserves will be built up by $1 million a year with the rate increase.

Several councilmembers spoke, saying investigating trash rate increases was long overdue. Buche said the department plans to come back every five years with rate adjustments.

“The onus is on us now as a decision-making body to rip the Band-Aid off and take a peek under the engine. What is that going to look like? And then next year, when we’ve done the studies to potentially make that decision. But I don’t want to delay this decision. I don’t want to hold it hostage. I think we need to move forward,” said Maxwell, the council president.

Maxwell is running unopposed for re-election in 2024.

Waiting longer would have a “detrimental ripple effect,” Perea said.

“This is one of those decisions where it’s not popular, but it’s the right thing to do. This is something that’s been kicked down the road for far too long and now it’s on our plate,” Perea said.

Esparza said he’s been “sounding the alarm” about possible rate increases since 2019.

Chavez explained his no vote in an email to GV Wire. He and Arias are running for Fresno County Supervisor District 3.

“With inflation and the escalating cost on food, PG&E, medicine, rent, high interest rates, gasoline and basic home necessities, especially for seniors and people on fixed income, I didn’t feel comfortable raising basic utilities rates. I’m looking forward to hearing from residents during this (Proposition) 218 process to determine how or if we make rate adjustments,” Chavez said.

Arias asked several questions of Buche during Thursday’s debate.

Bredefeld, running for Fresno County Supervisor District 2, explained his vote.

“I voted to allow the city of Fresno to make their case and explain to our residents why they feel a rate increase is needed. Our residents will then decide whether or not they agree. If they agree, it will come back before the Council in May and I will make my decision then about any rate increase, which I generally oppose,” Bredefeld said in an email.

The city held four community meetings in the past few weeks about the proposed rate increase. Buche said attendance was “sparse.”

There was no public comment about the rate hikes, either.

The city would provide a new service, a bulk-item pickup once a year for each customer, beyond the annual “Operation Clean-Up” pickup. That would start in July 2026. Also, Buche said the department would offer low-income discounts, similar to the city’s water program.

In a comparison of trash rates with other cities, only Bakersfield’s are lower. After the five-year rate hike, Fresno’s rate would be middle-of-the-pack.

Source: City of Fresno (GV Wire)

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

DON'T MISS

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

DON'T MISS

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

DON'T MISS

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

DON'T MISS

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

DON'T MISS

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

DON'T MISS

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

DON'T MISS

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

DON'T MISS

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

DON'T MISS

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

UP NEXT

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

UP NEXT

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

UP NEXT

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

UP NEXT

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

UP NEXT

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Arrested in 2004 Cold Case Rape and Murder

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Willie Ray Butler

UP NEXT

Fresno Ranks Fourth in US for an Affordable Night Out

UP NEXT

China Exempts Some Goods From US Tariffs

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

8 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

8 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

9 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

10 hours ago

Conflicting US-China Talks Statements Add to Global Trade Confusion

10 hours ago

Driving Near the Fresno Airport Next Week? Plan for Road Closures

10 hours ago

Misty Her: Push for Fresno Unified Turnaround Starts Now With ‘Boots on the Ground’

10 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest 17 in Domestic Violence Crackdown

10 hours ago

What’s Next for Fresno Smoke Shop Ordinance: Lawsuit, Veto, Override?

11 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

Virginia Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a te...

4 hours ago

Virginia Roberts Giuffre speaks to reporters in New York on Aug. 27, 2019. Giuffre, a former victim of Jeffrey Epstein’s sex-trafficking ring who said she was “passed around like a platter of fruit” as a teenager to rich and powerful predators, including Prince Andrew of Britain, died on Friday at her farm in Western Australia. She was 41. (Jefferson Siegel/The New York Times)
4 hours ago

Virginia Giuffre, Voice in Epstein Sex Trafficking Scandal, Dies at 41

8 hours ago

California Proposes Allowing Testing of Self-Driving Heavy-Duty Trucks

8 hours ago

Higher Taxes on Millionaires? Trump Says He’s Open, but Many in His Party Are Not

8 hours ago

Ex-US Rep. George Santos Sentenced to Over 7 Years in Prison for Fraud and Identity Theft

Selma Mayor Scott Robertson (left) has been charged with misdemeanor electioneering for allegedly campaigning near voters at a polling place during the November 2024 election. (Facebook)
8 hours ago

Selma Mayor Charged With Electioneering Violation on Election Day

9 hours ago

Fresno Air Improves. Where Does It Rank in the US?

9 hours ago

As Harris Ponders Run for CA Governor, Is She Prepared for the Daunting Job?

10 hours ago

Stocks Rise With Tech-Related Shares, Notch Weekly Gains; Dollar Up

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend