The Daily Journal is covering the garbage rate hike happenings:
Burlingame residents have until the end of a public hearing Tuesday night to protest a 17 percent rate hike for all garbage and recycling that, unless successfully protested by enough customers, will take effect Feb. 1.
The Burlingame City Council will consider the increase at its Jan. 18 meeting. Letters of protest must be received by 5 p.m. Tuesday or delivered during the public hearing to be counted. As of Jan. 13, 11 protests were attached to the staff report released last week. If less than a majority of rate payers protest, the council can then vote on the increase which would go into effect Feb. 1.
Although it was unclear how many protests would be needed to block the increase, there are thousands of accounts. Finance Director Jesus Nava, however, said it was clear the letters gathered thus far didn’t come close.
Burlingame’s rate increase is based on several factors including an 11 percent cost of solid waste collection and disposal; 1.4 percent increase due to customers using smaller containers with less revenue potential; and 4.6 percent increase to pay Allied’s final bill under the expiring franchise, according to a staff report written by Nava.
Later in the article some higher increases are listed for neighboring cities!
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