The city council was expected last night to raise prices for
solid waste collection and disposal for the first time since 2002
by approving a payment schedule that would impact residential and
commercial customers only slightly.
Hollister – The city council was expected last night to raise prices for solid waste collection and disposal for the first time since 2002 by approving a payment schedule that would impact residential and commercial customers only slightly.
Once the 5.4 percent rate increase is approved, the average residential customer using a 35-gallon garbage can will only see his rates increase about $8.77 a year. The increase will be a steady 5.4 percent for everyone regardless of can size, but those with larger trash cans will see their bills go up as much as about $24 per year. Commercial users will be hit a little harder with a fee hike affecting their weekly payments, though these increases will raise rates only about $5 to 15 a week.
Hollister Economic Development Corporation Director Al Martinez said the rate increases probably wouldn’t sit well with local business owners, many of whom he said think the city’s and the John Smith landfill’s disposal prices are too high. Still, he said, the fee hikes shouldn’t affect any new businesses’ decisions to move to Hollister once the sewer moratorium lifts.
“It will have an impact on businesses, that’s all there is to it,” Martinez said. “A lot of guys have been complaining for years about the prices. I know there are a lot of people who even haul stuff out of the county. But it’s just another business expense, so I don’t think it will keep anyone out.”
The council was expected to approve the 5.4 percent rate increase last night after holding a public hearing, which City Manager Clint Quilter predicted yesterday would be “pretty quiet.”
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at jq*****@fr***********.com.
