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City Officials Finalize FY 2020 Budget Drawing Criticism Over Rate Increases

June 6th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council finalized the city’s FY 2020 budget this week- which includes a 5 percent hike for water service and a 37% increase for trash collection. While the property tax rate was unchanged, property owners who saw their assessment increased by the state will pay more in taxes. Given the current economic climate- one woman told the city officials she can understand why the population has been dropping steadily for years….

  

Councilman Eugene Frazier offered the only response…

  

4 Responses to “City Officials Finalize FY 2020 Budget Drawing Criticism Over Rate Increases”

  1. June 06, 2019 at 11:18 am, Joseph Smith said:

    maybe if the mayor would let other trash co.bid on this service the rates may go down

    Reply

  2. June 06, 2019 at 5:26 pm, Terri Lynn Martin said:

    How about this waste of service: Recycling?
    Unlike the Lemmings, I’VE NEVER BELIEVED IT’S A ‘FREE’ or essentially ‘COMPLIMEMTARY’ Bonus given by the Trash Company AND NOT FACTORED n2 The Fees!! Is everyone thought 2b so Stupid to honestly believe a COMPANY, whose goal is to MAKE $$, is gonna run a 2nd truck & crew(or more) all over town to pick up product – recycling materials of little to zero value … 1/4-1/2 of which probably ends at the landfill anyway cuz of not being sorted/prepped-cleaned right…AGAIN=ZERO VALUE/GAIN 2 Recycle BUT STILL accrues Expenses 2 perform-be it labor or landfill!
    …So, yea! That’s FREE! I’M SURE! Oh & lest we forget the FREE Purple Trash Cans! Thanks! The only decent thing I’ve seen tax dollars spent on in years!
    So…???
    Is this why Sewage fees are 2-3x’s higher than H20?
    Hiding it there?
    AND 1 more thing…How much $$ does the city make off the $50 H20 Reconnect Penalty Charged – esp when seems the city has a bad habit of turning off few days earlier than should(guess just in the area?) OR on the last few days of the month to the first few days BUT ALWAYS b4 the elderly/disabled get their Checks!?!
    Pretty Convenient Billing Cycle the city has & $50 for the City to drive a few miles n any direction just to turn a knob!!!
    The city’s got what – @ 25,000 residents Yet the electric company got 2x’s that in the County and not only gives a notice but only charges $16!
    Our new Mayor has only been in office for a few months and Lord knows he’s got hands full…BUT these things are what WE, the People, elected him for and sincerely hope her gets to it-sooner than later…

    Reply

  3. June 07, 2019 at 11:58 am, LRH said:

    I am a fan of the new Mayor but any way you slice it, a fee increase is just government speak for a tax increase. The old adage of peeing on my leg and then try to convince me it is rain comes to mind.

    Reply

  4. June 07, 2019 at 12:05 pm, LRH said:

    One thing I would like to see is the Mayor and City Admin. come forward with some facts and figures and a plan that show they are trying to make the City workers and departments as efficient and lean as possible. Simply playing games with the number of employees is NOT a legitimate strategy. I have ZERO comfort level on cost control and accountability at a department level. I will admit up front it will probably save peanuts but it would sure make swallowing the “fee” increases easier.

    Reply

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