Trash collection rates raised

County landfill fees jumped 36% July 1, and Laguna Beach residents will be charged 5.5% more to have their trash collected.

The increase was approved unanimously by the council at the June 15 meeting.

The service increase for residential customers is due largely to the landfill disposal fee hike and partially to the Consumer Price Index adjustments built into the city’s contract with Waste Management of Orange County.

Under the new rate, single-family homes will pay $206.48 a year for service, up from $195.72. Duplexes will increase from $151.80 per unit to $160.15. Each unit in a triplex will be charged $141.86. Fourplex units will pay $133.76 each and fiveplex units $127 each.

Charges appear on the tax bills.

With the increase Laguna Beach residents will be paying the 12th highest rate out of 32 cities in the county, moving up from 18th highest.

Other cities are also in the process of adjusting rates so comparison data may change in the next several months, according to a report by Public Works Director Steve May.

A public hearing notice was mailed to all property owners on April 23. As of June 3, City Clerk Martha Anderson had received eight written protests.

Service charges for residential customers was last increased in July 1, 2009 by 5.5%.