Trash Fee Protest Period Now Open
JUST IN … On Monday April 14 the San Diego City Council voted 6-3 to move forward to final public hearing in June on the proposed changes to how trash services are paid for. The new program will implement a $47.59 monthly charge which will rise to $59.42 over 5 years and would be annualized to $571.08 added to owner’s property tax bills.
Voters approved Measure B in 2022 which replaces the 2020 “People’s Ordinance” that provided for free trash pickup at all single family (and many duplex/townhome) residences, the City began to work on the program details and costs. The voter guides for Measure B estimated monthly costs to be $23-29, yet the first proposal made by City staff to the City Council in February was $53, ultimately reduced to $47.59 after reworking the program. When questioned about the discrepancy, the Independent Budget Analyst apologized and admitted that “there are things that were not thought of back then.”
There has been a significant backlash over the higher amount- nearly double what voters were told to expect - as indicated by the large number of attendees at the City Council meeting expressing opposition over several workers and labor leaders who were in support. Written comments submitted during the meeting totalled 132 in opposition and 4 in support. San Diego’s $47.59 proposed monthly charge would be significantly higher than the median of $32 paid by residents of neighboring communities, and among the highest in Southern California.
The April 14 vote means that the City Council will make a final decision at a June 9 hearing and vote, and at the same time launches the protest period for the new monthly fee. Under California law, if half of the 233,000 households subject to the new fee protest before the June 9 hearing and vote, the new fees cannot be imposed. The City will begin mailing protest cards starting April 21 which must be returned to the City ahead of the June 9 hearing and vote. The new fee schedule is set to begin with the new fiscal year on July 1. For more details, you can visit www.cleangreensd.org
