Morro Bay garbage rates to increase

The Morro Bay City Council has approved a garbage rate increase ranging from 20.20% to 38.58%. This comes after residents already experienced hikes in water, sewer, gas, and electric bills. 

Several garbage companies across the county are seeking rate hikes due to increased costs such as food waste processing and higher gas prices. 

These companies are limited to a 7% profit margin, according to CalCoast News. Morro Bay Garbage Service is asking for a 38.58% increase for the first nine months to address a nearly $1 million shortfall, followed by a 20.20% increase. 

Garbage rate hike hearing set for March 21

The San Luis Obispo County Supervisors have set a hearing date of March 21 for proposed garbage rate hikes in the unincorporated towns of San Luis Obispo County, with Los Osos garbage customers alone facing a 41% increase. 

However, rates outside cities will double, jumping over 82% for the rest of this year, due to various reasons such as capital investments, market rate wage adjustments, increased costs of insurance premiums, and increasing operating expenses. 

While customers living in towns where the CSDs hold the franchise agreements can vote in protest against the rate hikes, those living outside the jurisdictions of the local CSDs cannot as garbage service is not mandatory. Source: Estero Bay News