Residents of unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County may see the cost of trash pickup increase.
County commissioners on Tuesday will consider a slate of increases to reflect inflation in the last year.
In the meeting agenda, county staff wrote that costs for the service provider — Waste Management of New Mexico — have risen, which is reflected in the company’s new contract with the county. The fees are meant to offset that increase.
Basic trash service — which includes one trash receptacle and one cart for recyclables — would increase from $18.72 a month to $19.94, according to the proposed rate structure. Additional trash receptacles are now $5.29 a month and recycling carts $5.21; those rates would be raised to $5.63 and $5.55, respectively. Bulky item pickup will remain free.
According to the agenda, the fee hikes are expected to increase revenue by $420,000.
Also on the agenda is the possible issuance of $186 million in industrial revenue bonds in connection with a proposed Mesa Film Studios LLC construction project.
The bonds would provide some tax exemptions to defray part of the cost of the project. The county would not make a loan or lend its credit to the company.
Mesa Film Studios is planning to build a media production campus in Albuquerque, consisting of six sound stages, office space, a post-production studio and other features.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
WHEN: 5 p.m. Sept. 10.
WHERE: Ken Sanchez Commission Chambers in Bernalillo County @ Alvarado Square, 415 Silver Ave SW.
VIRTUAL: GOV-TV, on the county’s website or on Bernalillo County’s YouTube channel
The City of Albuquerque and the State of New Mexico are contributing a total of $7 million in economic development money to the project.
Commissioners may also accept a pair of grants totaling $5,648,750 to hire additional guards at the county jail and Youth Services Center. The grants are from the New Mexico Department of Finance and Administration.
The larger of the two is just over $3 million for the Metropolitan Detention Center. It is intended to help the county cover the cost of hiring 23 new officers. The county will get the money over three years, including $1.725 million the first year.
The Youth Services Center grant is $2,625,000 over three years, with the county receiving $1.5 million the first year.