U-R update

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Baldwin County water and sewer customers may soon see an increase in their monthly bill.

After months of discussion, the Baldwin County Board of Commissioners agreed Tuesday in principle to a resolution to raise garbage pickup rates by $1.50 for county customers. The proposed increase would hike rates from $13.50 to $15 on all monthly bills beginning Aug. 1, but the proposal will not formally take effect until final approval of a contract with the county’s current solid waste service provider, Advanced Disposal.

The potential hike comes in response to an estimated $14,000 in monthly losses in the county is currently facing based on the county’s existing contract with Advance Disposal.

“This contract has been in place since 2009 and there have been zero increases in the rate, but we have had a 10.6 percent increase in [the cost of] our contract,” said county finance director Dawn Hudson as she addressed the board. “The expense has gone up, and we have not offset that by an increased cost in rate, so where we’re at now is we’re losing about $14,000 a month. We’re asking that we increase it just enough to break even and make up the deficit.”

Although the increase to $15 comes in just over the $14.80 the county currently spends per household to pick up residents’ solid waste, Hudson said the extra $.20 or so could be used over time to recoup the existing deficit caused by the county’s low pickup rate. The finance director also recommended that the county include changes to the consumer price index in future billing rates, which would prevent any further discrepancies between the countywide rates and the cost owed to Advanced Disposal.

While the proposed increase is contingent upon a final contract between the board and Advanced Disposal, which commissioners plan to view in the coming weeks, the new rate would do away with a troublesome deficit that has beset the county’s budget.

“We will all have an opportunity to see the specifics of the contract before we vote on it,” said commission Chairman Sammy Hall. “All we’re asking here tonight is to go ahead and make a decision about the increase of the price. Regardless of what the contract says or doesn’t say, we still have to pay for it, and we feel the $15 plus the CPI will cover that.”