Some residents of San Diego are speaking out about what they call a “sneaky” attempt on the city’s part to introduce a new trash collection fee.
California Proposition 218 requires all city councils to mail information to every homeowner regarding proposed fees and to reject the fee if a majority of homeowners return written protests.
While the city has included a form to be filled out by homeowners who want to reject the fee, citizens like Duane Wittmeier say that the mailer looks like junk mail, and is easy to overlook.
Furthermore, the flyer is three pages, double-sided, with densely packed paragraphs, and the instructions included for rejecting the proposed fee are difficult to understand.
"By sending this flyer out saying, ‘We’re just going to charge you if [you] don’t notice it, we’re just going to give you a bill,’ and I think that’s pretty clever of them to do that. I think it’s sneaky, I think it’s wrong," Wittmeier says.
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What is San Diego’s new controversial trash collection fee?
The flyers were sent out in April, with a deadline to respond by June 9. The new proposed trash collection fee is $47.50 per month, which adds up to $570 per year.
Retiree John Horwath says, “You know, that $47.50 doesn’t seem like much, but on a fixed income, it sure is.”
Wittmeier maintains that trash collection is already a part of property taxes that each San Diego homeowner pays.
"I think they’re double-dipping. Our property taxes already indicate that there are services there. That’s what it’s been since it started," he says.
NBC’s local 7 News station in San Diego reports that just three years ago in 2022, voters approved a ballot measure with a suggested trash collection fee between $20 to $30 per month. The city sent out an updated estimated charge of $53 for trash pick up earlier this year, which was widely rejected by constituents. This new fee is an attempt to bring the costs closer to the original estimate.
In a statement delivered by a spokesperson, the City of San Diego defends the fee.
"Residents in every other city in San Diego County pay for their trash services, as do all the City of San Diego residents who live in apartments, condos and on private streets — about half our population… What the City is proposing will free up millions of dollars in the City’s operating fund to pay for priorities like parks, libraries, police and firefighters and road repair."
What is the opposition to the trash collection fee?
A number of citizens remain strongly opposed to the fee. One San Diego resident who did not give the local CBS news station her name says, "I would like to see every homeowner in San Diego fill out the form, get help from the city in terms of filling it out the way it should be, filled out according to your home ownership, how your home ownership is labeled, and then get the form into the city in time so that we have more than 50% of homeowners voting against this."
To the city, she says, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And for heaven’s sake, don’t fix it and then charge me for the fix.”
CBS reports that while the flyer includes a form that can be detached and mailed in, citizens are required to pay the postage to return the form. It may also be handed in at the office of the City Clerk.
Speaking to the local NBC News station, Garrison Ham, who sits on the taxpayers’ association board, shares his concern that citizens are now being asked to pay more than they expected when they cast a vote.
“It is unfair to charge residents and ratepayers additional funds if the city government isn’t able to balance its budget through its other programs,” he says.
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The city is facing a $258 million shortfall in its latest budget. Mayor Todd Gloria’s new proposed budget includes the projected revenue from the trash collection fee to balance the books. The fee is set to take effect in July if a majority of local homeowners don’t file their written objections.
How do the proposed San Diego trash collection fees compare to other cities?
The city’s website, insidesandiego.org, published an article on April 9 with further justification for the fees, comparing the proposed rates with other metros in California.
“San Diego’s proposed fee for service is significantly less than Sacramento, which charges $57.79, and Long Beach, which recently approved a fee of $67.63. Oakland and San Jose have the highest fees, at $160.27 and $160.35 per month, respectively.”
The article further states that the fee simply brings the city in line with others in California.
“San Diego is one of the only cities in California, and the only city in the county, that does not directly charge residents a fee for trash and recycling collection.”
Laws for the state of California do not restrict the imposition of any new fees for citizens from City councils, provided they receive less than a majority of written opposition to the proposal.
How can citizens respond to the proposed trash collection fee?
The City of San Diego maintains that — as the new trash collection fee only applies to homeowners — many of San Diego’s residents will be unaffected by the charge. However, these residents too get a say.
Beyond the necessary step of returning a written protest to the fee, concerned citizens can connect with the taxpayers’ association board for further resources and to lend their support. Homeowners are also urged to call the offices of their city council members to voice their opposition to the fee.
The public meeting about the fee is scheduled for June 9 — the same day the written rejections of the fee are due. San Diegans can attend the meeting to speak directly to city officials about their concerns.
Finally, homeowners can ensure their neighbors are aware of the flyers from the city, which are easy to overlook. Concerned residents can volunteer to help neighbors and friends fill the forms correctly and to return their forms to the city clerk.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
