I got my borough tax bill earlier this week.
Borough real estate, sewage, and trash removal.
Real estate 10.1780 mills.
Roughly a hike of four percent.
Sewage is 5.70 mills.
Two percent hike.
But that's calculated against my water bill. Inbound water.
They figure most of the water that comes in goes back out again through the sewers.
After all, how much water can two people drink in a day?
But the trash removal is worrisome.
It spiked by over 12%.
The borough, bless their community-based hearts, included substantial explanations in the tax bill for the increases.
From what I read, my trash bill could have been worse.
Last year, Delaware County charged Lansdowne $600 for trash taken to the incinerator in Chester, PA.
For 2009, the County has raised the fee it will charge Lansdowne.
To $91,000.
Lansdowne is 1.2 square miles.
Home to 11,000 people.
The County covers 191 square miles.
Has 550,000 people living in it.
Lansdowne is just one of 49 municipalities inside County borders.
And my little town's bill is $91,000?
Here's the clincher.
According to the paperwork delivered by the borough with my tax bill, Lansdowne is not permitted to shop for a different incinerator contract.
Say, one with a lower freakin price?
Nope.
"By County law all collectors of trash, including municipalities, must deliver and dispose of the trash at the COVANTA incinerator facility located in Chester PA."
So.
We've got a price hike that's exponential in size.
And a law locking all participants into one resource.
Somebody stands to collect a bargeload of cash on this deal.
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