Marion may end trash fee discount for seniors

MARION - Marion's City Council may vote Thursday to stop offering a discounted garbage collection fee for its older residents.

Ending the $5 discount on the $12 monthly fee is part of the city's budget for the fiscal year that started July 1, Public Services Director Ryan Miller said.

“Our expenditures are increasing,” Miller said.

Residents with disabilities and the 1,624 seniors now paying the reduced rate will continue to enjoy the discount, which would be extended to include low-income households if the council scraps the current fee schedule.

“From what I could find, we are the only city that offers a rate reduction based on age,” Miller told council members during Tuesday's work session.

“We may be the only one, but I don't want to change it,” Joe Spinks said. “We have operational increases. It's nothing we can't work around - we have the lowest fees in the state by far.”

But keeping the senior discount “would put quite a burden on the other 30,000 people,” Craig Adamson countered. “I think it should just be based on income and disability.”

Miller said the low-income discount would be based on the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development's guideline, which sets eligibility at $56,800 for a four-person household.

The council will have its first vote on the proposed change during its meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, 1225 Sixth Ave.

A $1 monthly rate increase on Jan. 1 is also included in this year's budget. Marion's fee, which also covers recycling services, was last increased in 2008, Miller said.

Cedar Rapids residents pay $17.77 monthly for trash collection and recycling. The combined fee is $15.50 in Iowa City. Neither city offers a discount.

Hiawatha residents hire private haulers to collect their trash.