The Grand Rapids Press Jan 25, 2012
“Trash Conversion Startup funds OK’d”
A plan to switch city trash collection from bags to carts will be funded with money earmarked for reinventing municipal operations.
Grand Rapids City Commissioners on Tuesday voted 5-2 to use $2.4 million of a so-called “Transformation fund” to pay startup cost of the new trash and yard waste collection process, set to start in July. The fund will be repaid within 5 year at 3% interest, city official said.
City Staff identified an alternative that would have borrowed the money from Kent County at 2% interest by the interval loan was deemed “the wisest way to borrow” and one that would yield “a relatively hearty return back to the general fund” Greg Sundstrom said.
The Transformation fund was established last year to help fund public-service innovation aimed at making Grand Rapids Financially sustainable. The Money comes from a temporary income-tax hike that votes approved in 2010.
More than half of the $2.4 million approved for the trash program would be spent buying 20,000 plastic trash carts, 7,000 yard waste carts and 1,000 back yard composting bins. About $1.1 million would be spent on truck equipment upgrades, including on-board computers and invoicing soft way for the” pay as you throw” program
Common Sense Review
Last year the City Commission was given $7 million in discretionary spending, and here it is… Oh wait in an article 3 days prior, the City was explaining how there is no money for street repair… That’s right a new trash system is more important than safety road..
Isn’t a city commission a representative of the citizens of that city… How many people in Grand Rapids find a new trash system is more important than safe roads?…
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