Nathan Stubbs

Council approves garbage contract; rolls forward millages

by Nathan Stubbs

In a marathon meeting last night, that adjourned just before 1 a.m., the Lafayette City-Parish Council voted 7-2 to approve a new garbage contract with Allied Waste that will provide automated trash pickup. The automated service, which requires residents use new 96 gallon trash containers, will pick up garbage once a week and is scheduled to begin around April of next year. The new five year contract, with a five-year renewal option, kicks in when new service begins next year and has a rate of $19.52 per month per residence. That's up from the rate this year, effective Oct. 1, of $17.66 in the city limits and $16.20 in the unincorporated areas of the parish. As with the current contract, the new contract's rate will be adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index.

In other business, the council also followed suit with the Sheriff’s Office and school board in voting to roll forward all of its property tax millages. Property taxes were re-assessed this year. By rolling forward millages, the council is opting to keep property taxes at their current rate. With assessments up an average of 30 to 40 percent this year, residents are likely to see higher property tax bills come the end of the year.