By Coral Gables Gazette staff
During a discussion of his record at the May 19 Coral Gables Commission meeting, Commissioner Ariel Fernandez touted the city for lowering its garbage fees. “We got it done. We delivered for the people. It was the only time it’s been done in the history of the city,” Fernandez said.
Five hours later, at the same meeting, the commission voted 4-0 — Mayor Vince Lago had departed — to advance a proposal raising its garbage fees, with little discussion among commissioners.
What residents would pay
Under the preliminary assessment resolution approved by the commission, the annual residential solid waste fee will increase four percent for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Finance Director Diana Gomez said the full annual rate will rise to $601 per dwelling unit. Residents who pay before Aug. 15 will receive a discounted rate of $572. Auxiliary living units such as garage apartments and pool houses will be assessed at $300.50, or $286 with the early payment discount.
The total solid waste assessment is estimated to generate approximately $6.44 million toward the city’s solid waste services for the coming fiscal year.
“The fee is being increased by 4% from the prior year to cover similar increases in solid waste division operating costs including personnel, fuel and vehicle maintenance costs and tipping fees associated with solid waste collection and disposal services,” Gomez told commissioners.
Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson asked Gomez how much residents would pay if the city charged the full cost of service. “It would be roughly $1,300 if it was a full cost,” Gomez responded.
The item generated only a brief public discussion before commissioners quickly approved the measure.
Public pushback
Resident Maria Cruz said she did not object to residents paying more for garbage collection but pushed back against characterizing the city’s approach as a subsidy, noting that residents already contribute significant tax dollars to city operations.
“The people that reside in Coral Gables do not mind some of their taxes going to the benefits of living here,” Cruz said. “And I’m glad that nobody used the word subsidized today because, you know, nobody gives the money. We pay the taxes and we should be able to choose where we want the taxes used and we choose to have the service we got.”
Cruz also argued the city could avoid raising the fee if it reduced spending elsewhere. “I think instead of increasing the price of the solid waste, we should cut back on some of the stuff that we’re doing nowadays like increasing salaries by 10% by changing titles and give the people what the people want,” she said.
What happens next
The May 19 vote initiates the formal assessment process. It does not finally impose the fee increase. A public hearing at which residents may object to the proposed rates is scheduled for September 14 at 9 a.m. at Police and Fire Headquarters, Community Meeting Room, 2151 Salzedo Street. The assessments will be collected on the ad valorem tax bill mailed in November 2026.
The increase comes less than two years after the commission voted in June 2024 to lower the annual garbage fee to $550 — the first reduction in the city’s history. That decision came after more than an hour of debate over how much residents should pay and whether the city should continue covering a portion of the actual collection cost through general tax revenues. At the time, Lago supported lowering the rate and questioned why smaller homes should pay the same flat fee as larger estates.
Ahead of last year’s budget deliberations, Fernandez had also requested a study examining whether the city could eliminate the garbage fee entirely and absorb the cost into the general budget. That proposal was never formally pursued, and this year, increasing operational costs ultimately resulted in the commission moving in the opposite direction.
