South Tucson residents will be getting an unwelcome surprise on April 1.
Thatβs when a new contract for the 1.2-square-mile city begins, officially handing over residential trash service to the city of Tucson.
Tucson has been providing the service on an emergency basis, after private hauler Waste Management stopped picking up trash last fall.
An estimated 1,200 residential customers will have to pay a premium for the service, shelling out $18.26 a month for weekly curbside trash and recycling pick-up.
The figure is $1.51 more than Tucson residents pay a month.
The city says itβs required to charge an βin lieuβ tax rate under state law for providing a service to another jurisdiction.
The South Tucson City Council agreed to the deal, but opted against including brush and bulky service. That would have added an additional $1.42 to the monthly tax bill.
South Tucson city officials said their public works department could provide the same service on a twice-a-year basis to residents.
Still, the figure is much higher than what residents were paying a year ago, roughly $6 a month.
The agreement includes language for a discount for low-income residents. South Tucson officials estimated about 50 people could qualify.
Private hauler Waste Management severed its ties with the municipality last year following a long-running dispute over unpaid bills.
Court filings suggested South Tucson owed the company more than $300,000.
The contract between South Tucson and Waste Management dates to August 2011.
The Tucson City Council is expected to approve the agreement when it meets next week.
