Garbage fees to climb from a chain reaction

Coulee Dam residents will likely soon pay about another $1 a week to have their trash picked up at the curb.

The city council in a Monday budget workshop found that a hike of about $4 a month is likely inevitable, following a boost in dumping fees Grant County’s landfill near Ephrata will charge the Delano Transfer Station to haul garbage there.

That, coupled with the city taxing its own funds with a large B&O tax as a means of systematically transferring funds to its “current expense” general spending account has led to a shortfall in paying for the service and keeping that account in the black.

Reducing the 18% B&O (business and occupation) tax on the amount the city takes in from garbage customers would only lead to deficits elsewhere, city council members said. The council raised that rate from 5% several years ago but didn’t raise garbage rates enough to compensate.

“Eventually, we have to pay the piper,” Councilmember Dale Rey said.