BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Bakersfield City Council has voted in favor of ending a trash rebate program for local seniors.

City Attorney Virginia Gennaro originally called for the repeal, and claimed that the rebate costs more than $520,000 this year.

Since 1987, seniors 65 and older - who own or occupy a single-family home - have received a 50 percent rebate on the trash service fees they pay on their property tax bill.

At present, 103,000 property owners pay an extra 3 dollars a year to subsidize the 5,600 seniors who own homes in the city, saving seniors about 95 dollars a year.

Opponents to the repeal argued that senior citizens generate less trash than younger age groups. They believed it was an attempt to gain more tax dollars from citizens.

According to The Bakersfield Californian, the City Council said that the recent dip in oil prices hurt the local economy. In effect, they were forced to reconsider the rebate program.

The vote to end it was unanimous.