Galway households face a hike of almost €20 in the refuse charge next year unless city councillors can prevent it from becoming a reality.
The Draft Budget 2011 is proposing to increase the yearly flat rate waste management charge from €148 to €167.98 next year.
In the report, city manager Joe O’Neill wrote that the charge has had to be increased by five per cent as a result of the requirement to account for VAT at 13.5 per cent.
“For the average household, the increase will amount to €1 per month. There is no increase in the variable charge for the green and brown bin,” he said.
However councillors are adamant there should be no hike in the fixed charge and will be arguing for it to remain at its current level at next Monday’s city council meeting, which starts at 4pm, to discuss the budget.
“People are already being hit on every side with increases and cuts so they do not need this increase,” said Labour councillor Billy Cameron.
Fine Gael councillor Brian Walsh said the “majority of councillors will oppose” the refuse hike and that FG will “fight it” on Monday.
“The Galway City Council has lost a huge number of customers to private operators over the past five years,” he said, “and increases in prices will eventually drive us out of the market. Households are already struggling to meet their bills and payments and any additional charge will only hurt them more.”
The Draft Budget 2011 also proposed to increase the cost of the refuse bags and the gate fee at the composting site by five per cent to take account of the next cost of VAT on these services.
