Town of Bath increases garbage rates

October 05, 2004|by TRISH RUDDER/Staff Writer

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Effective immediately, garbage collection rates will go up for residents and businesses in the town limits.

On Monday, the Town of Bath Council voted unanimously in favor of the new rates, which affect the October through December billing quarter. Council member Dave Duncan did not attend the meeting.

The new rates are as follows:

· Residences will be charged $36 per quarter for one pickup a week. The previous rate was $27.50 a quarter.

· Businesses with one pickup a week will be charged $60 per quarter. The previous rate was $31.50 a quarter.

· Businesses that generate food waste must have two pickups a week for a quarterly charge of $120.

· Businesses with three pickups a week will be charged $180 per quarter.

Businesses with trash bins are charged differently. There are nine businesses in town with trash bins, said Councilman David Crosby.

Any special refuse pickup for items such as furniture or appliances is $75 per truck load and will be paid for and scheduled in advance, according to the ordinance.

Ordinance Committee chairwoman Nancy Harvey said the committee worked as a group to do the best they could.

"This is a pretty good ordinance and a little more professional than some," she said. "Our intent was to have the garbage collection pay for itself."

Crosby, chairman of the council's finance committee, said the town's refuse collection revenue for the last fiscal year was $71,600, but the expenditures exceeded $90,000. If the refuse collection rates were not raised, Crosby said, there would be a loss of $19,000.

"Something had to be done," he said.

The town faces a $27,000 overall budget shortfall for the last fiscal year, said Crosby. The fiscal year ended June 30.

Bath Mayor Susan Webster said the new rates would help stabilize the town's finances.

"This is an important area to get the budget back on track," she said. "We have a good garbage service, and this will enable us to balance the budget."

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