PREVIOUS STORIES • Collection questions remain • Committee will weigh trash bill assistance • Answers provided to trash questions • Trash pickup map, schedule go on Internet • Garbage questions • Legal action threat delays trash service • Officials iron out trash plan • Collection of garbage will change • Trash plan seeks one pickup rate • Vote fails to extend services • Garbage again gets attention

Members of an Augusta Commission committee said Monday that although mandatory garbage service might create a financial hardship for those on fixed incomes, trying to work out installment billing plans or finding a way to discount the cost of service for certain people will be too complicated and unrealistic for at least another year, possibly two.

''Right now, we have got our hands full trying to get the current program up and running,'' City Administrator George Kolb told members of the administrative services committee Monday. ''I would recommend not going forward with a hardship discount until we've got a year of experience under our belt.''

Augusta commissioners said they have received an abundance of phone calls from constituents on fixed incomes who say the $195 annual charge for trash service creates a financial hardship. Senior citizens have been especially vocal, saying they don't generate much trash and most private haulers offer discounts or monthly billing plans.

Unlike school board taxes and property taxes, for which the General Assembly has OK'd tax relief for certain income brackets, garbage service is not eligible for any tax discount, City Attorney Jim Wall said.

Earlier this year, before garbage service was extended to outlying parts of the county, commissioners considered billing monthly for garbage service on customers' utility bills. But by charging for the service on annual property tax bills, the charge is deductible from federal income taxes.

''That's going to be an advantage to some people that they haven't had before,'' Commissioner Marion Williams said.

The current contract for garbage service lasts two years. Once the contract comes up for renewal, the city might be able to work out different billing plans, various levels of service and hardship discounts, Mr. Kolb said. But for now, things will stay the same.

''Since consolidation, people who live in the Urban Services District (the old city) have been paying for garbage collection without consideration for special circumstances,'' Mayor Bob Young said. ''This is just an extension of that contract to include new areas of the city. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible under the contracts, to create different classes of customers.''

Reach Heidi Coryell at (706) 823-3215.