JACKSONVILLE, Fla — Trash collection is becoming more costly for Clay County residents, who can expect their combined collection and disposal rates to jump from $233 a year to $324 a year, a $91 increase.
The Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday night to approve that hike in fees, with residents piling on their concerns.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
“They don’t care about me, they don’t care about you until it’s time to renew a contract,” said Clay County resident Art Hooker.
“I wanna know, why is the county doing something that it could be privatized and let somebody else manage and we wouldn’t even be here today,” added another resident.
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
However, Milton Towns with the county’s Environmental Services division told Action News Jax on Wednesday those privatized, subscription-based trash services would actually cost significantly more, while also citing rising costs as a reason for this jump in fees.
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
“Our lowest cost bidder for the new contract beginning October 1 is 60% higher than what we’re currently paying,” said Towns. “The assessment of our rates currently, we would not collect enough to cover those costs. And we have to pay our bills.”
This jump also comes after the county bumped rates just ten percent in the last 17 years, despite a 48 percent jump in inflation over that same period.
The new rates will now go into effect on October 1.
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Sign Up
