News Summary
The San Diego City Council is poised to vote on a reduced trash fee for single-family homes, decreasing it from $47.59 to $43.60 per month. This cut stems from bureaucratic changes allowing the city to accumulate reserves at a slower pace. The council has faced opposition regarding the accuracy of customer estimates and potential fees that may exceed those reflected in past voter guides. Concerns of a legal challenge over the fee’s validity also loom as officials consider options to aid low-income residents. The upcoming vote on June 9 could significantly impact municipal service funding.
San Diego — The San Diego City Council is set to vote on a revised trash fee for single-family homes, which has been adjusted from $47.59 to $43.60 per month. This $4 reduction is a result of bureaucratic changes that allow the city’s new trash fund to accumulate reserves more slowly. Initially proposed at $53 per month in February, this represents an 18% decrease, reflecting ongoing discussions around the appropriate charges for waste services.
Despite the reduced fee, some opposition remains. Councilmember Raul Campillo has indicated he may reject any proposed charge exceeding the estimated $23 to $29 reflected in voter guides for the November 2022 ballot. This ballot measure amended the People’s Ordinance, which previously allowed free trash pickup for single-family homes with street access and certain multi-family lots.
City officials have spent over two years assessing appropriate trash service charges after gaining the authority to establish them. Even with the recent adjustment, the proposed trash fees in San Diego would still be greater than those in most Southern California cities. Survey data from 12 cities shows a median trash fee of $32 per month, with Long Beach and Los Angeles charging more than San Diego’s proposed rate.
Concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of the estimated number of customers eligible for the no-cost trash services. A recent analysis revealed that city officials had overestimated the customer base, with the current number being approximately 242,264, down from the previously cited 285,000. Consequently, the estimated number of eligible customers for the new fee has been adjusted from 222,996 to 226,495.
For those seeking a reduced service option with smaller trash bins, the initial fee would be $32.82 per month, increasing in subsequent years. Proposed schedules indicate that full-service customers will pay $43.60 in fiscal year 2026, with rates expected to rise to $55 by fiscal year 2028. Additionally, city officials are exploring the possibility of trimming fees further by potentially removing a pilot program for electric trash trucks, which could lower the initial fee to $42.76.
The upcoming council vote, scheduled for June 9, could be canceled if over half of the potential trash customers submit protest cards through the mail. Activist groups have been encouraging residents to voice their opposition; however, the number of protest cards returned remains undisclosed.
Adding complexity to the situation is a legal challenge filed by five homeowners against the city and its council members. They argue that the trash fee violates Proposition 218, claiming it is based on inflated estimates and that the city has not adequately informed residents about the fee proposal.
The council is also considering subsidies for low-income customers, with a budget allocation of $3 million aimed at supporting this demographic. These proposed fee changes are anticipated to significantly influence how the city funds critical municipal services, making the outcome of the council’s decision highly consequential for the community.
In summary, as the San Diego City Council prepares for the upcoming vote on the adjusted trash fee, residents and officials alike are engaging in discussions about the financial implications and the potential for legal hurdles impacting the implementation of the fee structure.
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Additional Resources
- NBC San Diego
- Wikipedia: Trash Collection
- San Diego Union-Tribune
- Google Search: San Diego Trash Fee
- Times of San Diego
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Waste Management
- CBS8
- Google News: San Diego Trash Collection Fee
