JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The annual garbage fee in Jacksonville is set to more than double over the next three years for homeowners.

The Jacksonville City Council voted 12 to 7 on Tuesday to increase the trash fee.

Council member Matt Carlucci told First Coast News raising the fee had to be done to combat rising costs.

The current annual trash fee is $151.80. This increase will boost the fee to $324 on the 2025 property tax bill.

In 2025, people will pay $27 a month, in 2026, that cost will increase to $29 a month, and in 2027, residents will pay $32 a month. 

The rise in cost is the first time the city has raised the rates in 15 years.

In addition to the price hike, city council also approved “safety net” legislation that helps low-income families. 

“Raising the garbage fee is no fun,” said Carlucci. “But, it had to be done. But, if I was gonna do it, I had to have something of a safety net for those who couldn’t afford it.”

This plan is similar to the one the city uses for the annual stormwater fee, which exempts certain families from paying it. Carlucci said the process will be similar.

“Attach whatever tax records that they have, showing what their income is for the size family they have. I hope people are able to take advantage of that assistance bill,” said Carlucci.

Council member Rory Diamond, however, voted against the trash fee increase and assistant program.

“We should have cut spending first and then we should have redid how we did the contract second, then you go to people of Jacksonville and if you can’t get those two things done, but we didn’t even try, we just skipped to the end, and said give us more of your money that’s not cool,” said Diamond.

Applications for assistance have not been created yet, but Carlucci said people need to keep an eye out and apply as soon as it becomes available.