Not enough Fresno trash ratepayers turned in protest cards to thwart a proposed 114% rate hike over five years.

The Fresno City Council will take one more week to decide whether to reject or approve the increases.

After hearing the pros and cons for nearly two hours, the council is expected to take a final vote on June 27.

Thursday’s hearing included a presentation from the city, public comment, and a tally of protest cards received and turned in that day.

The city received 50,315 valid cards before Thursday, and 47 were turned in at city council chambers. At least 58,480 protest cards were needed to automatically cancel the proposed rate. All parcel owners with Fresno trash service received mailed notices, including a card to return.

Councilmembers asking questions of Public Utilities director Brock Buche did not quite tip their hand on how they would vote. Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Luis Chavez previously told GV Wire they will opposes the increases.

Rates for the 64-gallon gray cart would climb from $19.20 to $41.21 over five years. A larger 96-gallon cart would see a 78% raise in five years. The city has not raised garbage rates since 2009.

“A true-up for the cost of serve,” Buche told the council.

Buche said that without the approved increase, either the general fund would have to cover the shortfalls, or the city would have to cut back on services — such as free dump days and shredding events. The law requires trash pickup every week. Recycling and green waste pickup could be moved to every other week. Reducing employee hours or layoffs would be a last resort, City Manager Georgeanne White said.

The department has not purchased new vehicles in two years, Buche said. And, if city residents don’t comply with state recycling mandates, costs could go up again in a few years. City Council President Annalisa Perea balked at the idea of being asked for another rate increase.

Councilman Mike Karbassi said a decision comes down to cutting things like public safety or endure a “slight increase” in garbage rates.

Solid Waste An Enterprise Fund

Solid waste is considered an enterprise fund by the city, meaning its revenue and spending is separate from the general fund. In essence, it is a self-sustaining division. While general funds could be spent on enterprise funds, the reverse is not true, Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

Councilmember Nelson Esparza described solid waste as “government sort of operating a nonprofit business model.”

The mayor said the $483 million general fund “has to be supporting parks, police, fire, public works and a number of other items. It makes it very challenging to be able to stretch that those general fund dollars.”

Costs have gone up in that time frame, including PG&E, fuel, new trucks, and labor contracts.

“When you go 15 years without a rate increase, what ends up happening is you have to increase your rates more dramatically,” Dyer said. “It’s important to know we’re doing this over a five-year period. So we’re trying to make it as painless as possible, smoothing out those rates over the next five years.”