Wore a "pre-pregnancy" dress this weekend. Another milestone reached.

I am becoming Obsessed with the Garbage Lady. We got a mailing from the city this weekend, announcing a hearing at the end of July, because they want to raise the garbage rates again. They are already scheduled to go up next fall, '09. from $26/month to $28. Which I'm already paying, so WTF? But now the city would like to not wait, but jack up the rate THIS September to $36.32. This is actually the highest rate, paid by single family dwellings and duplexes. Three units and over pay about ten dollars less. Most apartment buildings actually have private dumpster hauling and don't even deal with this. So 3 people living in a one bedroom apartment are paying the same amount as a 5 bedroom house.

The mailing does mention that this cost covers the full cost of refuse service in the city, all 447 square miles, including recycling, hazardous waste disposal and large object hauling. When you put it that way, it actually sounds like quite a deal. What I'd like to see is the budget breakdown, and where were they getting the money two years ago to run this whole operation if the cost has gone from $7 to $36. Local taxes? Was garbage completely cut out of the local budget so now it needs to support itself entirely? Am I the only person in the city who thinks this is a little extreme? I feel like a crank, but it's not a bill you can change or conserve. I can drive less, turn off the lights, and not talk on the phone, but I'm paying for that can whether I throw anything away or not. And our recycling is picked clean a couple times a day by guys pushing shopping carts collecting cans and bottles, so unless I fill it with cardboard the blue bin is never filled either.

Hey you kids! Get off my lawn!