By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Household trash will continue to be picked up once a week, but Del Rio residents will likely pay at least 5 percent more for the service beginning in early October.
City council members discussed household trash collection and the proposed increase in solid waste rates during a special meeting on Tuesday. The discussion came as part of a presentation on the city’s enterprise funds by Interim Finance Director Roxy Soto.
Soto told the council the current solid waste rates in the refuse and landfill enterprise fund were adopted in 2019. She said the current rate for household trash collection is $20.54 per month inside the city limits and $24.65 outside the city limits.
Soto said, “We are recommending a 5 percent increase (in rates) overall to balance the budget.”
She said the city’s current contract for trash collection and operation of the landfill with Platform Waste Solutions will cost the city an estimated $5.4 million and pointed out the city will need an additional $2.9 million for the other costs associated with the fund.
Soto said the city published a notice of a public hearing on the proposed rates the city council has set for Sept. 22, but noted the public notice inadvertently read that the frequency of trash pickups would be changed to twice a month under the new contract.
Soto assured the council there would be no changes in the frequency of trash pickups, that pickups will continue once a week under the new contract. She said a corrected version of the notice has been reposted.
Councilwoman Elsa Reyes said, “These (refuse) rates have not been changed since 2019, so seven years, and nothing is the same in seven years, so I just want to make sure that we make that statement.”
Councilman Leno Hernandez Jr. said he wanted to clarify that at no time had the council or the administration ever recommended household trash pickups go to twice a month.
Hernandez added, “I think all of us got beat up a little bit this weekend, with people thinking we were going to reduce services.”
He next asked about the total cost of the contract: “So total cost is $8.5 million, with total revenues at $8.516 million, so what are we netting? $14,000? But total costs for next year are projected to look more like what?”
Soto replied, “The total cost for next year is the $8.5 million, that’s what’s currently budgeted. It could be more, depending on what we pay Platform, because it depends on what is brought into the landfill. That is what they charge us.”
Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez asked how much the previous trash collection and landfill operation contract was, and City Purchasing Agent Luis Menchaca responded it was about $3.6 million.
Gutierrez asked, “And the new contract is $5.4 million?”
Menchaca replied, “Of course it fluctuates based on the amount of consumers that use it, so in 2025-2026, it was $3.6 million.”
Gutierrez asked, “And the main reason for such a huge increase, a couple of million, almost, is because of the new equipment that’s incorporated into the new contract, is that right?”
Soto responded, “Yes.”
Gutierrez said, “I’m clarifying it just so our citizens will know. Also, are there any new, additional services that our citizens will be receiving with that 5 percent increase?”
Soto said, “Currently we will be sustaining the same service. As far as anything additional, I’m not aware of any additional items that are included in the contract.”
“There was nothing additional added,” Menchaca added.
Councilman LeRoy Briones asked whether the new contract included curbside recycling, and Menchaca said it does.
Gutierrez asked a question about the proposed new rates, and Soto said, “I did want to clarify on the recommended 5 percent increase. We will be recommending a minimum of 5 percent, but it could be more, so when we have the public hearing (on Sept. 22), we will be providing you what the rate is now and what it will be, just as we did at the last meeting, where we presented what we are currently charging and what the proposed cost is.”
Hernandez once again brought up the possibility of the city taking over the trash collection and landfill operations in-house.
Later, toward the end of the meeting, Gutierrez asked about the Sept. 22 public hearing on the solid waste rates.
Gutierrez said, “So, we have the adoption of the budget and the tax rate on Sept. 8, but we have the public hearing on the proposed rates for the trash on Sept. 22. It will be after we approve the budget that is dependent on that increase.”
Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez replied, “Yes, ma’am. The rates would go in effect in October, and based on the timeline, that’s when we’re having the public hearing on Sept. 22.”
Soto added, “We wanted to provide plenty of notice to the community on the proposed rates, so that’s why that was the best time to have the public hearing.”
Gutierrez said, “I understand that, and Mr. Chavez, this is more for you, I think, because I’m sure that we’re going to hear from our citizens. Why have a public hearing if we’re going to adopt the budget with the proposed increase? In other words, they’re going to attend the public hearing, they’re going to be there present to voice their opinions and suggestions and complaints, if they agree or not agree, but yet we’ve already adopted the budget on Sept. 8.”
Soto said, “I also just wanted to add that the council did approve the contract with Platform in March or April, so we do have that already approved, and so we do have to, that is included in our budget, so we know that for certain that we are budgeting for, at least, the $5 million contract with Platform.
“Our proposed budget does include the revenue that we are proposing with the increased rates, however, we could always go back in and make a budget amendment if we needed to, but with that, we would need to reduce our costs. So if our (proposed) rates were not approved, and we maintained the current rates, we would have to significantly reduce our operating costs, so we would either have to look at our personnel or supplies and contractual in order to balance the budget,” Soto said.
Chavez added, “Back in November or December of 2025, when we approved the new contract, we had mentioned that in order to move forward, we were going to need a rate increase, and I think at that time, we were talking about anything from a 15 to 20 percent increase, so, yes, we have been laying this groundwork, and I know that we recently provided the recommendation (for the increased rates). As Roxy mentioned, should those rates not be adopted, then we would have to come back and make changes to the fund.”
Gutierrez said, “Just for the record, that’s why I asked about it again, the reason that we have the significant million-dollar increase, couple of million dollars, is because of the equipment that was added by Platform in order to provide better services . . . but again, once the contract is completed in five years, is that equipment going to belong to us? And the response was no, so we won’t own any of that equipment that we’re helping to pay for, but we’re covering the entire cost of that equipment, and we’re not going to be able to keep it, and whenever we’re doing contracts, we just need to go back to affordability.
“Whenever we’re drafting a contract, that can we afford? Because at some point in time, we can’t just get a contract, as productive and as service minded as it might be for our consumers, for our citizens, will they be able to absorb the increase in cost, for you to be able to administer and pay off the contract amounts.
“One thing I want to note about this budget thing, next year, or if we approve this budget, it’s also going to include an increase in the Platform trash rates for next year, something like a cost of living. So I just want to make sure I understand that is not just the $5.71. . .”
Hernandez interjected and told Gutierrez, “Point of order, ma’am. I think you’re discussing something that’s already been discussed in prior city councils, and you all already voted to approve it.”
Gutierrez went on, “I’m just saying that the $5.71 is the initial increase, but then in the subsequent year, we will have an additional cost.”
Hernandez said, “With all due respect, the contract, the new contract, you all approved the contract way before we (the new council members) were here, so it’s like we’re having to pick up the bag that – I’m sorry to say – but you all gave us that bag. There’s really no discussion to be had about the contract. We didn’t review or give an option on that contract. With all due respect.”
Gutierrez responded, “And that’s fine, and thank you for that, and everyone has their perspective on things, and I’m just stating that these are facts that I stated (before).”
Mayor Al Arreola stopped the discussion, saying it was losing focus.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
