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Commission Votes To Increase Garbage Rates

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 18, 2008

TAMPA - Hillsborough County residents will see slightly higher garbage bills starting in January.

County commissioners voted Thursday to increase residential garbage collection rates by $15.47 a year, or about $1.29 a month. The vote was 5-2, with Commissioners Brian Blair and Al Higginbotham voting against the increase.

The commissioners didn't have much choice. Bondholders who have lent the county money to build a waste-to-energy plant require a yearly increase in garbage disposal charges to maintain enough reserves for future construction or to deal with a natural disaster.

The rest of the increase will go to private haulers who contract with the county and have seen significant increases in fuel and other costs over the past year.

The county has raised yearly garbage rates a total of $47.44 since 1992, an average annual increase of $3.95.

Hillsborough residential customers will pay $209.07 a year under the new rate, compared with $303 paid by Tampa and St. Petersburg residents. Pasco County residents pay $202.28.

Mike Salinero

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