A major sanitation rate increase approved by Summerville City Council is drawing criticism from Councilwoman Simone Adams, who says she voted against the change because the jump is too steep for residents to absorb at one time.

Last week’s Summerville News reported, council members questioned the size of the increase and asked whether the city could negotiate the cost. The report notes the last rate increase was in 2022 and was smaller, while the current change is described as landing around the low-to-mid 50% range.

Adams told WZQZ News she opposed the increase because she believes the roughly 52% jump is “astronomical at one time.” She said the vendor cited rising transfer fees at the sanitation site and sharply higher auto insurance costs since September, but Adams argues those factors still don’t justify passing such a large increase directly to households. Adams also said she asked whether the price could have been negotiated and was told, “This is what Mr. Wright needs to continue service”.

Councilwoman Adams says that she believes any increases should have been phased in gradually over time instead of implemented all at once.