Laurel citizens receive a 60 cent increase in garbage collection fees

LAUREL, Miss. - Laurel City Council passed a 7-0 vote Tuesday night to increase garbage collections fees.

Mayor of Laurel, Johnny Magee said, "The reason that it went up was because where we take our trash, our different items, they went up for their tipping charge, which means that we have to pass it along to the consumer."

Taxes did not increase.

But, the city did increase its garbage collection fees from $18.50 to $19.10. Citizens will have to start paying the new total starting October 1.

"We had to tighten our belt. We had to lay off some part-time people. We did not have to lay off any full-time people. But, we had to do what we had to do to balance the budget. And we're doing it all because we are concerned about and considered of the taxpayer’s money," said Magee.

Mayor Magee said he hopes the part-time workers who were laid off, will have their jobs back in a few months.

Mayor Magee also said layoffs took place in the recreation department and not the sanitation department.