Increasing: Trash PIckup Fees or Sour Grapes?

I  could be wrong, but I thought that the current trash pick up was already under a contract and that it was put out to bid before it was awarded.  I thought that the current contract started like January of 08 and if that is true, I would assume that it would continue for a certain number of years.

Toby,

I think your may be mistaken about the wage freeze.   I believe the FOP just agreed to a 1% wage increase and 2 new holidays one being the officers birthday.

Also,  tonight is the vote and it was a very good political answer you gave but being all things as they are...are you For the trash tax or Aginst the trash tax.  How do you want to see the vote go tonight?

Tobi, it was put out for bid.  It was accepted as being monetarily reasonable.  Again, keep in mind, the reason for the "trash fee" has NOTHING to do with trash.  It has everything to do with the general fund.

 This is the "doublespeak" we as taxpayers need to be aware of. 

It is a trash fee to take some of the weight off the general fund...basically asking the people to pay for trash so that the money that the city would pay for it can go to other things...I don't find that doublespeak myself.

My husband told me that his union voted to accept the wage freeze and that the others did too I believe.  I am not sure about the raise to the police...that isn't what I was told.

I am not in favor of the fee.  But, I am not in favor of alot of things that we have had to do lately.  I am not in favor of closing small schools, but there are really no other options.

So, I don't want to pay it, but if I have to to maintain my other services, I will.

I just spoke with a certain councilman that had voted yes on first two readings and after all the calls he has gotten, he is voting no tonight.

It does help to call your councilman  and I urge you to do so as it is not yet to late.  

We need one more no vote for it not to pass.

I hate there might be layoffs, but what about all the teachers that have lost their jobs due to ecomony?  It seems to be the nature of the times for nowand I do not see it getting any better anytime soon.

Toby,

So you do not want it to pass correct?  Can't you just say yes I want it to pass or no I do not want it to pass?

Anderson Allstar I hope that is True!!

I don't want it to pass, but...I do understand that we have to make changes and if it passes I will accept it.

Tobi - Of course it's "Doublespeak."  It's also improper accounting.

The budget isn't being managed properly within the appropriate category. Instead of managing the category with the cash shortfall and letting the citizens know what is REALLY going on, the politicians shift money budgeted for one line item to the deficit line item and create a "crisis" to make up the short-fall in the category that was otherwise properly funded.

So now, most citizens believe that we have a budget shortfall with trash pick-up and that we might not get trash pick-up, etc.

Meanwhile, the politicians are off to the races and continue to spend like drunken sailors with NEVER A SINGLE THOUGHT to cutting back on their own expenses, salaries, perks, etc. 

So basically the city of Anderson is looking to generate an additional $3,260,346.00/yr from its citizens, under the guise of paying for trash service, to actually use to fund its "business as usual" practices. . .

(10.75 x the number of households listed in the last census x 12)

Yes LRA, it is true.  He also told me if nobody else changes their vote it will still pass.  I still have a call into  one at large council person.  We still have work to do before 5 p.m.  Make the calls people especially if you are a senior citizen.    There are so many seniors now just taking their medication every other day due  to the economy.