Cameron County residents living in rural parts of the county serviced by Republic Services for solid waste collection will see an increase in the service.
The cost will increase to $36.28 per cart per month, up from $34.25 per month. The new rate took effect Thursday.
Cameron County Commissioners Court Tuesday approved the 5% increase after Republic Services requested the increase.
“It is a contractual obligation between the contract between the county and Republic Services,” said Pete Sepulveda Jr., county administrator for Cameron County.
Although documents provided by Republic Services indicate the consumer price index is at 15.72%, the county has a contract with solid waste collection provider that caps increases at 5%. Republic Services will absorb the 10.72% difference.
Cameron County Precinct 3 Commissioner David Garza said that since Ray Tamez joined Republic Services his office has “experienced success with issues we have had with almost all the complaints that have come in.”
Garza added that this didn’t mean he wanted to raise the rates the county is charging residents. Due to the contract “I don’t believe we have choice,” he said.
Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. said Tamez has been working with the county and precinct commissioners to address issues residents might have. “We are all in the customer service business and in your particular area that could create some issues,” Trevino said.
The Feb. 15, 2018, contract agreement between the county and Republic Services stated a 5% cap for any and all CPI increases would remain in place. “This will benefit the county during the budgeting process and also protect the county from large spikes in pricing from year to year. Price would not be able to increase more than 5% in any given year,” the document stated.
Under the contract, residents will pay $36.28 per month for one cart; $48.77 per month for two carts; $72.48 per month for three carts; $96.19 per month for four carts; and $119.90 per month for five carts.
