Parma's garbage fee to be collected via real property tax duplicate

Parma’s waste collection fee, previously billed by the Cleveland Water Department for a 15-month period, will be assessed on real property tax duplicates, beginning in January 2017. This method of collection applies to the year 2017 and moving forward. 

The new change allows more senior residents to qualify for the homestead exemption, which will now be based on the county’s qualifications instead of Cleveland Water Department qualifications.

Earlier this year, a state law was amended so that Parma can specifically assess property owners for waste collection on the property tax bill beginning in 2017. The charge will be semi-annual.

By using Cuyahoga County to bill and utilizing the county's homestead exemption, the number of Parma dwellings utilizing the homestead exemption more than triples - from 2,332 to 7,416. Therefore more senior property owners will pay a lesser rate for waste collection.

Waste collection rates were originally set at $12 per month and $11 per month for homestead exemption qualifiers and remain unchanged. A number of other cities, including Parma Heights and Fairview Park, utilize Cuyahoga County for 2017 waste collection.

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