VILLAGE OF MILAN, N.M. – Village of Milan residents recently received notices that their solid waste rates would be going up due to a calculation error. Village Manager Linda Cooke took a moment to explain the situation.
According to Cooke, calculating rates, such as solid waste rates and water rates for residents is something that the village has to do annually. This year, however, village staff realized they made a small error while conducting the annual calculation. “The rate increase was actually on the solid waste side. We missed one step, which was where we usually figure the consumer price index [multiplied by] the rate [multiplied by] five percent, which gives us the price that we need to charge. Now, the water part did not increase, it was just the solid waste management side that was increasing… It had basically gotten overlooked,” explained Cooke. The rate will increase by about 48 cents, said Cooke.
The village is currently in the late stages of converting to a pooled cash system, moving from a previously more complex system of money management to a now simpler system with fewer accounts to oversee. Village Finance Director Candi Williams has shared countless times how beneficial this new system is going to be for the village and their financial oversight. The process has been an adjustment of course, with a few miscalculations and corrections needing to be made along the way. However, Manager Cooke said that the solid waste rate error was not a result of this transition.
“It was a simple mistake,” shared Cooke. “It was something that we figure every year, and it was just a calculation that was overlooked in total. We did the rate [multiplied by] the five percent, but it should’ve been the rate [multiplied by] consumer price index.” The increased rate will be the permanent rate for the remainder of the year, since it was the rate that was intended to be calculated originally.
“Unfortunately, things do happen, and we try our best to stay on top. We look after the interest of not only our employees but our residents as well,” concluded Cooke on the situation, adding that residents can contact her if they have any questions, and she will try her best to answer them or direct them to someone who can.
If Milan residents have any further questions regarding this rate increase, they can contact Manager Cooke by calling the Village of Milan at 505-287-7124 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.