JACKSON – Northampton County trash fees are on the rise.

On Monday, the Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved a proposed Solid Waste Availability fee increase of 50 cents per month per improved property. The increase will be effective July 1.

The increase is needed to provide the Solid Waste Budget with funds to operate under a proposed balanced budget.

“The budget that has been sent to the board or to the county manager has this increase in it,” said Public Works Director Jason Morris.

The increase would generate $63,000 in revenue for the budget.

The hike in the fee will equate to a $6 annual increase to the $198.50 annual fee users are already paying.

Commission Vice Chair Virginia Spruill questioned the fee. She noted a financial report given by Finance Officer Dot Vick earlier in the meeting showed the Solid Waste fund running in the black.

“The availability fee is collected on the same authority that you levy and collect taxes,” said County Manager Wayne Jenkins. “As Mrs. Vick shared with us from July 1 through the end of September/October we are in lean revenue times. Ninety percent of taxes are paid by January 5 and April, May and June are lean months so very likely (that department) is going to spend more money in the months of May and June than is collected. So that over what Mrs. Vick talked you through is what’s going to balance it out in the months of May and June.”

He added the $63,000 is being proposed to build the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Vick said the $100,000 that she reported the fund was running over with will not take the county through May and June because the monthly payment to Waste Industries is over $100,000.

Jenkins noted in the first County Budget Work session he reported the Solid Waste budget was short on revenue and it would take an increase to the availability fee to make it self supporting.

Spruill offered a motion to approve the proposed rate change. Commissioner Joe Barrett voiced a second and the motion passed without objection.