SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Seminole County residents will soon be paying more to have their trash picked up.
County leaders said residents will see a $60 increase in their upcoming tax bill. Residents said they are not happy about the increase, but say the cost of everything seems to be going up these days.
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Officials said the county’s reserve fund has been taking a hit for years, so they haven’t passed on any huge trash fee increases. But they said with the reserve fund low on cash, it’s not sustainable anymore.
Timothy Jecks, chief financial officer for Seminole County, says rates for residents have remained flat for several years as costs have increased.
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For 2020 and 2021, residents paid $235 a year. This year it went up $5. But next year, residents will see a $60 increase from $240 to $300 in their taxes.
According to the county, this past fiscal year, haulers increased their rate more than 40% for fuel costs and more than 4% for the consumer price index.
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The new rates will take effect on Oct. 1 and average out to an extra $5 a month.
Orange County is also proposing an annual increase of $10 dollars in their trash collection fees from $250 to $260 for 2023 to cover all program costs.
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