Gardnerville considers hike in trash rates

Come July, residents of Gardnerville proper could see their trash rates increase.

On Tuesday, town board members mulled over a proposal to implement a staggered 3.5-percent increase in the rates of the town's trash service.

Board members directed administrative staff to schedule public hearings on the item in May and June.

If approved, the change would start with a 1.5-percent increase in July, then finish with a 2-percent increase in January of 2010.

Town Manager Jim Park said the increased revenue would balance the town's health and sanitation fund and increase the capital reserves used for equipment replacements.

He pointed out that Minden is considering a 5-percent increase in their trash rates.

"As it stands right now, a Gardnerville resident is the lowest rate-payer of anyone in the county," he said. "I try to be extremely conservative. I pay the same trash bill."

He said the town has already been searching for ways to cut costs and protect taxpayers, such as deferring the $160,000 purchase of a new town truck.

"We're lean and mean," he said. "It (the proposed increase) is what it is. As insurance goes up, as fuel goes up, as labor costs go up, we try to minimize everything we can. We deferred the purchase of a $160,000 vehicle to minimize the impact to rate-payers."

Presently, a Gardnerville household pays $49.75 per quarter for trash service. If the increases are approved, that fee would rise to $50.50 in July, and to $51.50 in January.

Commercial rates would also increase.

The cost of picking up a 2-yard dumpster would rise from $21.63 each pickup to $21.96 in July, and to $22.40 in January.

The monthly rental rate for a 2-yard dumpster would increase from $15.00 to $16.00 in July, and to $17.00 in January.

The increases were estimated to generate more than $26,000 in new revenue for capital reserves.

"It's not going to fund salaries," Park said. "This money would be strictly allocated to capital reserves."

But Gardnerville resident Victoria Roberts was wary of the proposal.

"We are all under a lot of emotional stress," she said. "The reason I noticed this was because of the words you're using " 'staggered increase' " it's so bureaucratic. When taxpayers in this economy see those words, a bell goes off."

However, some board members were concerned that keeping trash rates low, while operating costs continue to rise, would only create a larger problem in the future.

"If we don't stay ahead of this, there could be trouble down the line," said board member Jerry Smith.

Vice Chairman Tom Cook said the item needed further discussion at the public level.

"We need to get it out there so enough people understand what it is," he said.

Gardnerville board meetings are 4:30 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month in the town hall office, 1407 Highway 395.