Maui Councilman Mateo Stands Alone as County Increases Waste Money

Panel proposes $2 increase in trash fees
By ILIMA LOOMIS, Staff Writer, The Maui News
April 24, 2008

WAILUKU — The council’s Budget and Finance Committee on Wednesday supported a $2 increase in fees for county refuse collection.

The change came as a compromise between Mayor Charmaine Tavares’ request for a $4 increase, and Budget Chairman Joe Pontanilla’s proposal for no change in the fee.

Refuse collection services would go from $12 to $14 a month under the plan, bringing an additional $552,000 in revenues to cover rising costs of fuel, labor and maintenance.

Council members also cut a $200,000 project to upgrade the main facility at the Central Maui Landfill to redirect the funds to help pay for trash pickup programs.

Council members were divided over what to do about the trash fees, with some arguing that fees needed to keep pace with rising costs, while others warned that residents pinched by a tight economy couldn’t afford to pay more.

“Not everybody can absorb additional fees,” said Council Member Danny Mateo. “I come from a community that cannot.”

Mateo, who holds the council’s Molokai seat, also said...

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