Century’s Garbage Fund Made A $50K Profit Last Year. Now They Want To Raise Rates.

December 10, 2019

The Century council will hold a special meeting Wednesday to consider hiking garbage rates despite their garbage fund showing a profit over $50,000 last year.

The town’s garbage fund posted a 33 percent profit on the books during the fiscal year ending September 30. Most of that profit was siphoned away to to help bail out a troubled gas fund that still lost $222,304.

The town currently pays Republic Services $14 per resident per month for a single 95 gallon can pick up per week, plus varying fees for commercial customers. Century currently charges residential customers $23.19 for garbage and debris service.

Republic is exercising a provision of their contact that allows them to increase the rates they charged the town by 3.1% to match the Consumer Price Index.

Last fiscal year, the garbage fund billed $148,998.99 and spent  $98,111.66. Of the $50,927.33 profit remaining in the garbage fund, the town transferred  out $41,000 to the gas fund, according to year end financial documents. That left a positive balance of $9,927.33 in the gas fund at the end of the fiscal year.

The special council meeting to consider the garbage service rate increase will be at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11.

NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge.

Comments

16 Responses to “Century’s Garbage Fund Made A $50K Profit Last Year. Now They Want To Raise Rates.”

  1. Edwin Reynolds on December 11th, 2019 9:30 am

    You elected this people stop complaining do something stop rubber stamping these people do something about it or let it keep happening a profit in government is rare they find a way to spend it

  2. Drew on December 11th, 2019 2:47 am

    This is absolutely wrong , my trash bill is already $26 a month & that works out at $7.50 each Wednesday they pick up the trash . But yet my water bill averages about $14 a month . This is not the way to treat customers . It’s pure greed plain & simple … people need to come together and shut this attempt at a price hike down . I don’t have to use this trash service .

  3. Michelle Dixon on December 10th, 2019 6:31 pm

    Well, I will see y’all Wednesday at 5! I hope it’s standing room only!

  4. David Huie Green on December 10th, 2019 12:15 pm

    REGARDING:
    ‘Why are they using the profit to pay for the gas lost?why not hold the people who stole the gas accountable.”

    Unless I missed it somewhere, the problem is not gas theft but gas sales not read and/or billed by the town That’s why they bought a bunch of new meters a while back even though they didn’t bother to install them at the time.

    David for better people

  5. Dave on December 10th, 2019 11:31 am

    For a brief moment I thought I was reading something positive about Century. Same old city government same old ways. They have milked all of the other departments dry so this one is next. So sad the fine people of Century have to continue to support the town government.

  6. Nathalie Bowers on December 10th, 2019 11:28 am

    In response to Oversight:
    The standard monthly charge for ECUA residential sanitation service is $25.66 for three pick-ups per week – one pick-up of household refuse (95-gal.), one pick-up of recyclables (95-gal. & requires sign-up to participate), and one weekly pick-up of yard trash. Additionally, included in ECUA’s residential services at no extra cost are: weekly bulk waste pick up without the need to call in (just put items out per program parameters) and scheduled Recycling bulk pick-up with a call to request the service. Furthermore, ECUA offers a senior rate for those who prefer a smaller 65-gal. can and a Lifeline rate for low-income seniors who meet the federal guidelines.

  7. Town resident on December 10th, 2019 10:18 am

    Why are they using the profit to pay for the gas lost?why not hold the people who stole the gas accountable.if it was not checked in properly then hold that person accountable.the prices in century with gas,water,sewage and garbage is going to continue to climb to cover up the money that’s unacceptable by the people that’s taking it

  8. Scott Kemp on December 10th, 2019 8:40 am

    As the contract with Allied allows the 3.1% CPI increase (which is common for long-term contracts) there is nothing improper, unethical less illegal about the required increase.

    It is troubling that funds were transferred from the “Garbage Fund” to offset the “Gas Fund”. The city policy should be reviewed for future transfers understanding the city is trying to find some type of financial reform.

  9. Mel on December 10th, 2019 8:26 am

    Why not set a toll booth comming threw century $100 per axle sounds crazy huh but would surely keep the town up on improvements.

  10. LETITIA DIGMON on December 10th, 2019 7:57 am

    Century is smart to use the utilities to support themselves.
    If Century wants to continue to offer gas, let the people of Century share the cost.
    The garbage few is an intelligent way to accomplish that.

  11. LETITIA DIGMON on December 10th, 2019 7:53 am

    The question is, should Century continue to offer gas service?

    Gas does not support itself.
    The City of Century us smart to use the utilities to support themselves.
    Increase the garbage few until all gas cost is covered.

  12. Fred on December 10th, 2019 7:00 am

    No surprise. The only government service in Century to turn a profit is garbage

  13. sam on December 10th, 2019 6:53 am

    not “NO”, but “#*%% NO!”

  14. Oversight on December 10th, 2019 6:46 am

    Government on your money is like a drug addict seeking the next fix. More, more, more. Being satisfied with its 30% plus profit never enough. I use ECUA and pay near $29/mo. If Republic can do it for $14/mo, ECUA is truly highway robbery.

  15. Jerry on December 10th, 2019 4:32 am

    Century is more corrupt than a banana republic

  16. Sedition on December 10th, 2019 2:58 am

    Of course they do. How else are they suppose to be able to afford all that *alleged* corruption in Century?