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South Fayette reduces garbage fee proposal
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South Fayette officials have lowered their proposed garbage fee to $8 a month--or $96 a year--in response to residents' concerns.
Township manager Ryan Eggleston initially had proposed charging each household $16 a month, but he said tonight that he reduced the proposal after hearing feedback from residents.
Some residents told commissioners that the fee would unfairly burden senior citizens, lower income residents and single residents who don't produce much trash compared to large families.
"There's an inequitable use of the service," resident Ellen Ashburn said. "If there is going to be a fee, that fee should reflect usage."
Mrs. Ashburn and her husband, Warren, proposed alternatives such as paying per trash bag, exempting senior citizens from the fee and assessing a fee based on the number of people in a household.
Michelle Freund, president of the Old Orchard homeowners association, said the garbage fee would be too much on top of the Allegheny County reassessments and an increase in her neighborhood group's dues.
"The $16 per townhouse is probably something that's going to create a hardship," she said.
Commissioners could approve a garbage fee next Wednesday (12/12) as part of the 2013 budget.
Andrea Iglar, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.
First Published December 5, 2012 11:22 pm
