Vicksburg City board approves garbage collection rate increase

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The city garbage rates will increase to offset the $1.6 million shortfall for the current Waste Management contract, with the city board approving the two year resolution to pay down the balance.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously Friday to approve an amendment to Section 11-101(a) of the city’s Code of Ordinances, raising the monthly rate from $21 to $35 for single-family households and small commercial establishments. The rate for each additional container will remain unchanged at $27.50 per month.

The change applies to single-family residential accounts, households in buildings with three or fewer units, and small businesses that receive garbage pickup twice per week. The ordinance caps residential service at two containers per account, while small commercial customers may request up to three additional containers at the same $27.50 monthly rate per extra can.

City officials said the increase is necessary to cover rising operational costs associated with collection and disposal services.

“It is proper protocol and the law, according to the AG’s opinion to pass those adjustments on to the customer,” said Mayor Thompson. “and because of that it’s created a $1.6 million deficit that has to be paid.”

Other sections of the ordinance—subsections (b) through (e)—remain unchanged and in full effect.

The new rates are expected to take place near the end of August or the beginning of September.