Letter to the Editor

I write this editorial to highlight an issue that was presented to the El Paso City Council on September 15, 2009. The issue regards the solid waste management fee implemented by the city of El Paso. It directs a garbage collection fee continue as long as the water bill is turned on (per El Paso City Municipal Code.) This issue affects every resident who ever wishes to move, sell or build a home in the City of El Paso.

I inquired about the reasoning behind the continued fee through my district representative. Ms. Ellen Smyth, P.E., Director of Environmental Services, responded that an audit revealed over $1 million dollars per year were not charged for solid waste service because property owners requested to have the fee turned off while away but would not turn the fee back on. She stated attachment of the fee to an active water meter was the only way to ensure proper payment from all residents. She also provided a list of tasks the garbage collection fee also funds which includes items such as graffiti and weed control, air quality, residential collection, drop-off sites and others.

This response blames the city’s revenue loss on homeowners. It implies attachment of the solid waste disposal fee to the water bill was implemented to avoid future revenue loss. Contrary to Ms. Smyth’s statements, this is not the only way. It is the easy way. The city does not receive proper payment. It is being overpaid by owners of vacant homes which require water service for various reasons.

Real estate consultation indicates homes are taking between 112 and 140 days to sell on average. On September 8th, over 2,100 vacant homes were on the market. Many likely have water service but no need for trash collection. The annual revenue building potential is enormous for the city.
Once garbage/recycle bins are removed by the city, billing should stop. The presence of city-provided bins at a home is a physical indicator that can, and should, trigger billing.
City staff officials argued that a new system could be too costly and may require another employee. My water bill clearly states I have an “extra” bin and am charged accordingly. Does the city employ another person to monitor all of the homes that have an extra garbage bin?
Ms. Smyth indicated the ongoing garbage collection fee charged to vacant homeowners whose bins have been picked up pays for other services, such as garbage drop off sites. Residents who turn off water and electric bills do not continue to be billed to maintain pipelines and water sources. This logic is not sound.

Twenty-five percent of our property taxes go directly to the city every year. In addition to the property tax, every commercial/residential property owner pays an environmental fee. Recycling, weed control and air quality maintenance sound like environmental issues that should be covered by the environmental fee, not a trash collection fee. What does the environmental fee fund?

Ms. Smyth presented 11 Texas Cities that link the garbage collection bill to active utility bills. There are many more cities than that in the vast state of Texas. Regardless, the current law is wrong. The argument that “everyone else is doing it” should not carry any weight.
The City Council voted unanimously to have a legislative review committee study the issue and provide a recommendation. Anything less than a “zero-bin zero-fee” resolution should not be accepted by El Paso City residents. If you agree, I invite you to go to the following link: http://www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/government.asp and contact your district representative.