INC NEWS - Re: [durhaminc] [Fwd: Durham's Solid Waste Management Director Accepts Alabama Post]

[Barry Ragin]

the amount of revenue generated by the yard waste program in FY 04 was 
approximately 19,000 (participating households) X $50, or about 
$950,000. In FY 05 it appears to be declining (14,000 x $60 = $840,000).

To generate that much revenue from each of Durham's approximately 
80,000 households would mean about $12/household, if it were divided 
equally without regard to property value. An equitable assessment based 
on property value might require a property tax hike of $20 - 30/year on 
the most expensive houses, and $2 - 3/year on the lowest valued 
property. I'm just guessing here, but my guess is that most of the 
households that were participating in the yard waste program were in 
the higher assessment range.

Personally, that seems reasonable to me, though I can't speak for the 
Neighborhood Association at this time. We will discuss this at our 
February meeting.

barry ragin


On Friday, January 21, 2005, at 05:56  PM, Richard Mullinax wrote:

> In my official position with PAC II, I contacted Al today to ask what 
> his proposal for yard waste would be. This question came up at our 
> last PAC II meeting. He is looking at a new plan that would include 
> curbside pick up for all yard waste, including vacuuming the leaves 
> from the ROW(not the street). This plan will be part of the new solid 
> waste service that will offer curbside for all items with no 
> additional pick up fees or calls. Everything placed at the curb would 
> be dealt with one day a week. The City Clean Up days would be obsolete 
> in the new systems because every week one could set out all they 
> wanted. This day of the week would be a Mongo bonanza!
>
> This plan will more than likely be offered in two payment methods. The 
> first being to add it to the general budget. A tax increase by % of 
> property value. The other is to modify the current voluntary fee to be 
> mandatory. This method charges each customer the same regardless of 
> ability to pay.
>
> There are always more than two options. We could keep the system we 
> have which encourages illegal dumping, and illegal set outs that must 
> be cleaned up at City cost. It also discourages people from raking 
> because of the barrier of bagging all in paper.
>
> I am not happy with unlimited service, due to landfill issues, but I 
> can no longer stand the trash in our neighborhoods. Nor the pressure 
> to cut trees to limit the yard waste.  We must tackle the issue of 
> recycling separately.
>
> I wholly support doing this in the general budget. To add a fee would 
> be a regressive move on our poorer neighborhoods. This service if 
> installed by fall of '05, which it could be, would be a huge increase 
> in service and worth the tax increase. Al has not stated what the cost 
> of the improved service would be. I am sure he will offer it as soon 
> as possible. It could be as high as  the current fee per person in the 
> voluntary program.
>
> The current fee service for yard waste is not functioning well. Nor is 
> the fees for set out of larger items as these litter our neighborhoods 
> for weeks at a time. Increasing the fees to all would fix the physical 
> problems and hide the true tax increase in language only. We are 
> facing a tax increase(or not if we stay the same). Do we put it in the 
> % of property value or on the per person?
>
> Richard
>
> -- 
>
> Richard Mullinax
> 921 N Mangum St
> 680-3883
> Housing Chair, Old North Durham PAC II co-chair
>
>
>