Lauderdale County residents coming to renew their car tag will need to take care of any outstanding garbage debt first as the Tax Collector’s office plans to begin holding tags for unpaid garbage bills May 1.
Tax Collector Doris Spidle said garbage bills are due each year by Feb. 1, and state law requires her office to hold vehicle tags after the May 1 deadline.
“It’s by statute that we hold the tags beginning May 1 for unpaid garbage fees, which means whether they owe one year, two years, three years, it doesn’t matter. They cannot buy a tag after May 1 without paying that garbage fee first,” Spidle said.
County residents pay a fee of $168 per year for garbage pickup, which covers residential pickup and roll-off dumpsters at county satellites for furniture, appliances and other large items.
The county also provides storm debris pickup, cleans up illegal dumpsites and offers amnesty day for household hazardous waste twice a year to help residents dispose of items the landfill won’t take.
Marion and Meridian have separate garbage contracts and bill their residents on a monthly basis. Residents of Marion pay $14.60 per month or $175.20 annually, while those living in the city of Meridian pay $25 per month for a total of $300 annually.
Delinquent notices were sent out to residents in March alerting them to their unpaid garbage costs, Spidle said. The notices also help catch people who may have moved or had another change, she said.
“They should well be aware of what they owe and don’t owe,” she said.
The Lauderdale County Tax Collector’s office is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents can also pay their garbage bills online at lauderdale.ibcpayments.com.