Springfield Aldermen have given preliminary approval to a one dollar hike in the city's recycling fee, but the more than hour of discussion revealed there's more work to do on the ordinance.
It's expected the city would raise about 564-thousand dollars a year to pay for programs like free leaf, branch and yard waste pick ups -- which are currently underfunded. Ward 6 Alderman Cory Jobe says such programs wouldn't be underfunded if the city took care of its trash problem -- noting it spends roughly 300-thousand dollars a year to chase down trash problems caused by people who don't have trash service.
Under the ordinance the fee would increase from 50 cents to $1.50 on April 1, and the charge would move to CWLP bills on January 1 2014. It will be taken up on final passage next week, but it's unclear if there are enough votes.
