Solid waste tax increase placed on Nov. 8 budget APPJ warns: Garbage pick up could be a thing of the past

The Avoyelles Parish Police Jury voted to adopt a resolution placing a proposed solid waste tax increase on the Nov. 8 ballot to continue garbage pick up for residents.
The current tax takes in $3.25 million, which is $445,000 short of the $3.695 million needed to balance the solid waste fund budget for 2022.
Kirby Roy, APPJ president and other jurors have begun visiting Avoyelles Parish town council and organization meetings to explain the need for a tax increase.
“This tax has to pass,” Roy said. “We are going to be a million dollars in debt by next year without it.”
Roy explained there are two options concerning the solid waste tax funds.

FIRST OPTION
The first option is to terminate residential garbage pick up as of Dec. 30 but continue with disposal services at the solid waste dump.
Roy explained trash would essentially become a paid delivery service. “You will be responsible for getting rid of your own trash,” he said.
“We have checked into it some and there could be a private
company come in but people will have to pay the cost,” he said. “I really don’t know what people would do if they don’t
pay to have their trash picked up.”
Roy added that individual towns or water systems could hire a company to pick up the trash and bring it to the parish dump, adding a charge to water bills.

SECOND OPTION
The second option is the proposed additional solid waste 1/4 sales tax and 7 mil property tax which will bring in enough revenue to keep residential trash service.
“Both taxes must pass to continue residential pick up,” Roy said.
“The projected solid waste account, if the sales tax increase does not pass, will result in a $1.073M deficit by 2023,” he noted. “The projected solid waste account budget for 2023-2028 annual expenses predicts a break down of Public Works-$63,000; salaries and benefits-$250,000; residential pick up $3,700,000 with an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 2.5%; administration and equipment lease- $150,000 and debris dumpsters cost- $160,000 for a total expense of $4,323,000.”
The solid waste program and budget is responsible for funding and overseeing operations of the solid waste recovery
site (barn), residential garbage pickup of 18,500 units, white good door-to-door pick up, scrap metal recovery and disposal, debris collection and disposal during storms, used tire collection and disposal, oversight, enforcement and cleaning of illegal dump sites and optional litter pick up on parish roads.
Roy gave estimates of how the increased millage would affect property owners under the solid waste tax as follows: $200,000 property value- $88 increase; $300,000- $158 increase and $300,000 commercial property-$210 increase.
Roy said sales tax increases would be minimal for consumers. For example, for every $400 spent, it will cost buyers an additional $1 in taxes.
The proposed tax will only add enough revenue to fund residential pick up. All commercial/private companies will have to pay an additional $40/month or $480/year for a three bag limit pick up.
Any organization wishing to give a presentation concerning the solid waste tax increase can call the Avoyelles Parish Police Jury at 253-9208.