Minister Burch On Tipping Fee Increase
“An increase implemented late and without proper notice…” said Public Works Minister, Lt. Col David Burch today following complaints from landscapers and the public regarding the recently implemented increase in tipping fees at Marsh Folly and the Airport Dump, with the Minister apologising for the “inconvenience and confusion,” and explaining that Government will continue with the original fees until October 31st, 2019.
Minister Burch said, “Since becoming aware of this issue, I have taken the time to gather all of the facts before making any public comment. As a result I can advise the public of the following important points:
- Any increases in Government fees must have the approval of the Legislature and traditionally are executed as part of the annual budget process in February of each year.
- In this particular case the Legislature passed unanimously, that is to say, without objection from the Opposition, the Government Fees Amendment Regulations 2019 in March of this year to become effective April 1st, 2019.
- These fees cover a variety of government services not just tipping fees and a copy is attached for ease of reference.”
Minister Burch continued, “I understand from the Ministry’s technical officers that as a result of a computer programming problem, those fees were unable to be programmed into the system at that time and so they were not implemented as expected by me and by the Legislature who had considered and passed the fees.
“Several public officers have been working to correct the problem but none made senior management of the Ministry aware of the issue. It took 6 months to solve the problem and without notice, the fees were activated on October 1st.”
“The Minister of Finance is responsible for the Government Fees Regulations and as such, I have consulted with him and can confirm that he has agreed to continue with the original fees to October 31st, 2019; thereafter, the revised fee structure will come into effect.”
Noting that the fees have not been increased in several years, Minister Burch added, “The operations at both locations [Marsh Folly and the Airport Dump] are heavily subsidised by the taxpayer – even with the marginal increases.
“The fees for services at Marsh Folly have been staggered to better reflect the amount of foliage being delivered there in order to bring equity between an intermediate trucker and a trailer truck – all of whom pass the haulage fees on to the customer.
“In this case, I wish to apologise for the inconvenience and confusion caused especially in the wake of the recent hurricane and all the work ongoing to restore Bermuda’s beauty.”
Not good enough Minister! Your taxes and increases are crippling the island and it’s people. You will pay at the polls.
The pontiff has spoken!!!
Muppets
More additional taxes, adding to our cost of living and taking away from our ability to sustain a standard of living.
Thanks PLP. Enjoy those cruises and trips to Monaco paid for by us.
I find it strange that no one picked up that a notice to the public hadn’t been put out. But this is the PLP so of course not. Go right ahead and continue to increase and tax the public. Remember that you’re hurting your own.
*Remember that you’re hurting your own.*
No , they’re hurting ALL of us .
When will the PLP start coming up with all the ways they are going to put more money in the pockets of Bermudians?
So far all we have seen is increase increase increase.
Oh well I hope they are enjoying all the travel they are taking on our dimes.
Why are we paying tipping fees when we are already paying taxes for that .” Double Dip ~ Dip” .
Same as import duty and car licenses” Double Dip ~Dip”.
What an IDOT,
By the people for the people
24-12 get what you pay for.
Cant even run a Bus Schedule
Correction, 25-11
I guess PLP are not de only ones that F@#% up.
No they aren’t, but they are generally F@#% ups themselves which is what is really F@#%ed up about it.
“I guess PLP are not de only ones that F@#% up.”
Good of you to admit that your party is F@#% up
Yes Indeed 25-11
But that responsibility and Not incompetence
Is it my imagination or do things like this (“An increase implemented late and without proper notice…”) happen to Lt. Col. Burch more than all other PLP Government Ministers combined?
Burch.needs to retire and the sooner the better.
he doesn’t know how to do anything!
25-11
Can we please get some adults in the room.
This is beyond embarrassing.
We need a proper government.
6 months to input new numbers into the computer? Total incompetence yet there will be no repercussions. The same people will carry on not doing their jobs, will be paid handsomely and complain they are understaffed and overworked.
That was the worst excuse for messing up that I have ever heard…. people have you had enough yet ?
Fly tipping will go up correspondingly. This is a stupid fee increase. Not only is it a radical jump – it actually encourages behaviour that is not in the community interest. We want people to keep up on landscaping. It also endangers jobs. Dumb, really.
Just leave it all on the ground ,let it all go back to nature, like it naturaly does .
When I was a kid we used to burn it , the carbon /charcoal ashes were put back in the soil to clean it.
Moving stuff from one untidy place to another untidy place the Marsh mountain to rot does not solve any thing.
Save your tipping fees for taxes.
There was a bit of a kerfuffle the other day when someone was burning stuff near to Warwick Academy – the smoke wasn’t pleasant to deal with for nearby residents or commuters.
All:
I hope this does not encourage increase dumping.
We should encouraging folks to correct dispose of waste, not discouraging!
Impact?
Can you believe the excuse Burch has come up with…he has admitted that he is working with a bunch of fools.
You get what you Voted for
PLP will make live better for everyone
Time for snap election. Plp a joke.
Every truck that enters Marsh Folly is weighed so in an effort to be more equitable why not charge by weight ? Why should a HC truck for example that has only a quarter of its capacity have to pay for a full load ?