Lawmakers Tuesday decided to nix a bill that would have required local-voter approval of municipal trash-collection contracts if residents aren’t first given a chance to opt out of the service.House Bill 1116, sponsored by Rep. Libby Szabo, R-Arvada, and Sen. Greg Brophy, R-Wray, would have exempted local governments that are already handling trash service.
“We shouldn’t be tacking on a brand new fee that people may or may not want,” said Brophy. “All this is saying is, ‘Please ask us first.’ If we’re going to switch from a private service to a public service, it should be up to the people of that community to decide.”
Opposition to the bill centered on concerns about local control and the ability of local government to determine what’s best for a community.
Sen. Jeanne Nicholson, D- Black Hawk, before voting against the bill, related to the committee her experience as a local elected official.
“There was never a topic more passionately debated than trash,” said Nicholson. “It’s important to let local government make these decisions and let the process be played out at the local level.”
The vote against the measure was unanimous.
Via – Colorado
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