NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WKBW) — A public hearing in Niagara Falls is now scheduled for September 25th in regards to the proposed garbage user fee. This coming as those in the community voiced their concerns at the Wednesday night City Council meeting.
The fee would cost taxpayers about $250 a year. Mayor Paul Dyster (D) told 7Eyewitness News last week, the fee needs to be approved to fill a $4 million dollar gap in the city's budget. But that budget hasn't been brought to the council yet. It actually won't until October 1st, which is leaving many to question why a public hearing for a garbage fee is even happening.
"The rush to put in a garbage user fee is nothing more than a default mechanism," one concerned neighbor said.
Last year--this proposal was trashed after public outcry. This year--the council voted 3 to 2 for a public hearing. Those voting "yes" insisting it is just a hearing, not the final decision.
Councilman Chris Voccio (R) voted against the hearing saying cuts need to come in some other form.
Those cuts--the council says--could come in the form of city personnel.
