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Trash-Hauling Fee Increase Proposed in Pasco County

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By KEVIN WIATROWSKI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2008

Trash hauling fees for Pasco County homeowners could go up to $12.44 a month, if county commissioners approve an increase proposed this morning.

The increase will be considered again at a public hearing Dec. 16 in New Port Richey. The new rates would take effect Jan. 1, affecting commercial and residential rates.

The increase reflects a 6.4 percent bump over the county-mandated fee trash haulers charge their Pasco customers. That increase is about one-third the 16.5 percent increase originally proposed. That proposal came out of the system the county developed in 2007 to index trash-fee increases based on a combination of diesel prices and inflation.

The indexing system was meant to free the county from hiring consultants to determine how much to charge for trash pickup.

Commissioners also approved an increase in fees last year, the first since 1992.

Given the recent sharp drop in diesel prices – and the overall weakness in the economy – commissioners today argued against adopting the full increase, which would have given Pasco the highest trash rates from Hernando County to Sarasota County.

"The bottom line is, we're in a much different environment than we were in September 2007," said Commissioner Michael Cox.

Trash haulers asked commissioners to approve the entire increase, noting that fuel prices could climb again in the near future.

"Even though fuel prices have stabilized or come down, I'm not one who wants to play the market," said Steve Serafino, head of Accurate Waste.

Reporter Kevin Wiatrowski can be reached at (813) 948-4201.

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