Dive Brief:
- Gary Cook, candidate for the City Commission, has filed suit with the Superior Court in Brunswick, Georgia, stating that the city broke the law when it began including solid waste collection fees in 2014 property tax bills.
- The town's sanitation contract was recently awarded to Waste Management, who charges less than the city's trash fee. But the city will not lower the fees for residents and continues to collect a higher rate from the community.
- Listed as co-defendant in the lawsuit is Glynn County Tax Commissioner Florence Dees, who Cook says has no authority to collect the fee or property taxes because she has no contract to do so.
Dive Insight:
The charges from Waste Management are $12.84 per month, but the city still collects fees of $20.60. Residents must pay the entire rate listed on the tax bill, including the trash fees, or a lien may be placed on their home. The city attorney stated that collecting solid waste fees with the property tax bill is a common practice throughout the state.
