JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The city of Jacksonville is setting aside $4 million to help for garbage and recycling services as one city council member proposed raising garbage fees.
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That money will go from the general fund to Meridian Waste.
Jacksonville residents pay about $150 a year for garbage pickup. Councilman Matt Carlucci said the number is actually closer to double that.
During the pandemic, the city faced issues with waste collection, including worker shortages. Because of that, the pay for trash haulers went up.
Carlucci said the city borrowing the money is creating a bigger issue and that money could go to other city business.
“That could be used for better parks, more water and sewer, lines, extensions, more roads, streets, better drainage, downtown development,” Carlucci said.
He added that it costs the city much more money to pick up trash than what you see on your bill at $22.39 per building.
That’s nearly twice the city’s solid waste fee, which hasn’t changed since 2010.
According to the Council of Auditor’s Office, garbage collection-related debt is expected to be around $36 million this fiscal year and it’s predicted to grow to around $95 million by Sept. 2025.
Jacksonville’s former Chief Administration Officer Brian Hughes called Carlucci’s idea to raise garbage fees a “terrible idea”. Hughes said it’s time for the city to collapse the separate fund, move garbage costs into the general fund, and treat it like an essential service.
Carlucci said he wants to introduce legislation in 2025 and right now, there are no specifics of what an increase in garbage fees would look like.
He was one of two members who voted “No” on moving the $4 million.