CITY OF BRENHAM SANITATION RATES COULD GO UP
Sanitation customers in Brenham may see their rates go up.
In a letter sent out this week to customers, City of Brenham Public Works Director Dane Rau said the city received a request from Brannon Industrial Group (BIG) about needed rate increases across the board, averaging 13-15 percent, for residential and commercial sanitation services, which include collection, disposal and recycling services.
The letter states the proposed rate increases are due to “prolonged fuel prices, sharp commodity increases (trucks, carts, and containers), increased operating costs and most recent increases in landfill tipping fees.”
BIG President Blake Brannon said in a letter to the city earlier this month that while the company “is extremely sensitive to the present economic challenges that the residents and businesses face,” the “extraordinary rise in operating cost” for factors such as fuel, disposal, labor, maintenance and equipment has prompted the request for an increase.
This is the first rate increase proposed since the city entered into a contract with BIG in 2020.
The potential rate change will be brought to the Brenham City Council for first reading on Thursday and second reading on September 15th. If approved, the new rate schedule would become effective October 1st, and would be reflected on October and November utility bills.
The city plans to release more detailed information about the possible rate adjustments on Monday.
Old way before BIG contract: Bags were provided. Pick ups were twice a week. Less cost to taxpayers.
New BIG way: rate hikes with no auditing available, pick up is once per week. Higher annual cost on every bill.
If you don’t run for city council next year to see that this deal gets rebid. then you don’t have a right to complain.
Just saying, because I know it will fall on deaf ears, BUT—
I hate the garbage contract with BIG. Garbage only once a week, loose garbage flying from can when being emptied, and most of all, the fact that lazy homeowners allow their cans to sit on the street for days after pick-up (with no consequences)!! The black garage bags that we used for many years were much less sightly and there were no cans left on the street. We also got twice a week pick-up. Just saying !
While citizens are crunching numbers trying to stay afloat after two years of COVID nonsense that crippled our economy, bigger businesses are raising prices on necessary and city required services to maintain their own profit margin. Taxpayers are seeing huge increases in property taxes (10 – 20%) every year while eliminating family dining out, taking the kids to movies, family vacations, and putting money aside as savings just to stay afloat. We’re expected to “tighten our belts” so big business execs can maintain their profit margin without increasing pay for their own employees. For many retired folks on fixed incomes, even small increases in city services, taxes, food, gas, etc. means putting themselves in harm’s way by skipping meals and necessary medications, and not using A/C at all. It is way past time for city officials to actually serve Brenham citizens and deny this requested increase in waste disposal.
Will BIG decrease rates after fuel prices go down again?
Another thing is the recycling. We stopped recycling altogether because the location is too far out of the way, AND we would have to pay to take it there!
Time to re-bid! There are cheaper alternatives out there!
Yep…go up on rates because you have control. What are people going to do about it. Maybe it’s time for a huge contingent of tax payers to show up and demand this be denied. BIG can give up some of their fortunes. These type of programs are one reason you see so much dumping on county roads. Come on City, so called, leaders…step up and protect citizens. Don’t act like the school board and keep piling on more taxes on taxpayers.
“Extremely sensitive to the present economic challenges that residents and businesses face.” Lip service. We’re gonna stick it to you anyway. My business expenses have doubled, but I haven’t raised my prices. That’s what “extremely sensitive” actually looks like.
Is the city going to increase my mom’s city paycheck since gas went up? My mom drives in from College Station.
Wow fuel rates are already down!! I’m sure they are still making a profit.
Ok, so the city doesn’t have to pay for the emplyees and benefits and have the trouble of hiring? On the other hand the citizens are at the mercy of a company having to charge more and more over time to offer fewer services and more garbage on the streets after the driver loaded truck spills trash after “dumping” the containers on the side of the residences. Sounds like a bad deal all the way around like having the school bond shoved down our throats as well!
Privatization of the sanitation department was a BIG mistake. That whole deal smelled…….
When the city switched to the current trash pick up, we lost one of the pick up days and our monthly rate went up. I was confused about that because we were getting less service with a larger price. Now they want to raise the rates. When does this stop. We already get less service. I am thinking BIG was most definitely not the way to go. They have control and will stick it us. I am so tired of the high valuations on the homes and now more for sanitation. My last child is a senior this year. Once she is done, we are selling our house and moving. Brenham is now about high home valuations and higher prices for less service. DONE!!!!
We are looking to move out of Brenham as well because of Taxes being so high and quality of life beginning to be less than Great here , Tired of being Taxed to death and for working hard in order to own a nice home. just for the Tax office to punish me by over taxing my property My friends from other towns call where I live ” Brenham TAX US ” 🙂
13% to 15% is too much at one time.
How about less. It just went up.
I hope the city shows some backbone and says no to that much of a pay raise, because that’s all it is.
5%, maybe. Will Brannon then lower the price when fuel comes down???
Will he pay a fair rate at his scrap yard going forward???
Or will he just keep soaking the city and county with his current deals???
I think not.
Another option is to pick up every other week or 2 x’s per month