More cash to take your trash

Arate increase of 12.3 percent for the collection of our recyclables, refuse, and yard waste by the Sonoma Garbage Collectors (SGC) will go into effect October 1, as approved by the Sonoma City Council at its August 22 meeting. This is on top of a 9.9 percent rate increase the council authorized, just 10 months ago, for the company owned by the local Curotto family.
The council approved the increase to help SGC replace two hauling trucks, expected to cost $200,000 each. Further, the council extended the contract with SGC, originally signed in 1994 and currently expiring in 2012, for another five years to 2017.
The council did put into place a new Refuse Rate Index (RRI) to control costs in the future. This would guarantee SGC a profit margin of 3 percent, though it would cap the private company’s profits at 10 percent. Sonoma City Treasurer Carole Giovanatto told the council that the RRI is becoming a standard within the waste collection industry. “It is because the RRI provides a secure level of protection to the rate payers,” Giovanatto said.
The attorney for SGC, former Sonoma mayor Joe Costello, said that even with this rate increase, Sonoma customers will be paying a rate slightly above the City of Cotati, which has yet to address a rate increase, and lower than all other cities in Sonoma County.
Council member Joanne Sanders said, “If one doesn’t like the rate increase – then it’s time to reduce the amount of garbage in our homes and businesses.”
“Is anyone opposed to the rate increase?” Mayor Stanley Cohen asked the council. “Hearing none – the rate increase has been approved.”