How do the 2009 rate increases compare to past rate increases?
Rates were held steady for four years from 2001 through 2004. In 2005, the City adopted a series of rate increases over three years: 8 percent in 2005, 6 percent in 2006 and 4 percent in 2007. The three year rate increase replenished the Solid Waste program fund after several years of drawing it down by holding rates to customers steady. Rates did not increase in 2008 because the city opted to use the Solid Waste fund to compensate for inflationary increases.
