Don’t raise garbage rates to pay for something else

Published 5:12 pm Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Garbage pickup service is for garbage, recycling and yard waste. It is not for street safety.

The Kent City Council is trying to figure out how to raise the garbage rates, citing it will improve street safety and help to improve the roads due to the garbage trucks travel. The council also cites that other surrounding cities charge more for garbage services than Kent does.

If the current garbage rate does not pay the bills, that is a reason. But the rate should not be increased just to make a profit or to pay for another service. We already pay utility tax, Kent city tax and property tax.

My suggestion: the council could hire citizens to drive around on garbage days and see how many households do not have garbage service. Each house, rented or owned, should pay for garbage service, whether or not a receptacle is set out on garbage day. It is already a requirement.

Where are the people without garbage service dumping their garbage?

– Kathy Skochilich