AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Augusta leaders say right now for trash, it’s too much cash. “You’ve got commissioners and as a matter of fact, I have been working on it. We’re not going to sit here and let this lie the way it is. We’re going to find ways of trying to provide the service at a lower cost,” said Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle.The city administrator is recommending increasing the garbage fee from $320 dollars to $395 starting next year, a $75 dollar increase.The administrator said it’s needed to cover the cost of garbage collection and provide funding for services like blight demolition, vacant lot cutting, and mosquito control, but knows it will be unpopular.“What we have to do is give them something that unfortunately they’re not going to be happy with, but hopefully making sure we’re going to be accountable to them to meet the needs that they’re promising them,” said City Administrator Tameka Allen.And as trash fees look to increase, those who want to recycle would take a bigger hit, with new monthly fees based on the level of service.To get once a week will cost an extra $178 a year, on top of the proposed new trash fee.“Recycling is very important to me right now. I take my recycling over to Warren Road. I want to continue to recycle. It’s good for the community, it’s good for the earth, but that’s a lot of money,” said Jason Scherer.
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Under the current proposal, if you want to recycle like before, it means paying more than $570 dollars a year in trash service.
“As it stands right now is this acceptable?”
“No, it’s not,” said Guilfoyle…