WTF?

During the November election, local voters were asked to vote on a property tax levy to fund our local transit authority (the bus company).  The LTA was established over 30 years ago by the local government when the previous, privately owned company, went under.

It was set up as a quasi-governmental enterprise that would be subsidized by local government for a few years until it could support itself (through fares, charters, bus advertising, etc).

As of last year, the city was still subsidizing it to the tune of $3.5 million. But the LTA was nearing insolvency. Poorly managed for years, they had limped along, being propped up by one Federal grant after another, until that trough ran dry.

Operating huge 60+ passenger buses that rarely carried more than a handful of riders over long torturous routes across town, it was difficult for anyone to get where they needed to go without making at least one transfer.

The bus company floated the idea of the levy over a year ago, stating that it would solve all of their problems, assuring continued operation for years to come.  Expected to generate revenues of $10.9 million per year, it appeared that the subsidy from the local government could be directed elsewhere.

For months leading up to the election, the bus company ran hundreds of radio and television ads supporting passage of the levy. Some were positive, others negative, warning that thousands of low income workers stood to lose their jobs, if there wasn't reliable bus service to get them to work.

God knows how many thousands of dollars this campaign cost.

But on election day, the voters came through, approving the levy by a narrow margin.

I voted against it, as I felt they didn't deserve it. The company has been poorly managed for years. I just couldn't support it. But I accepted the outcome of the election, thinking that at least I wouldn't have to hear their whiny pleas of poverty again for a long time.

But lo and behold, less than three months after the approval of the levy, which, it turns out, will generate $11.6 million per year, the management of the LTA came before the city council and told them that that just wouldn't be enough for them to restore services that had been cut over the past year. They had the audacity to ask that the city continue to subsidize them from the general fund.

Thankfully, the council, which took a decidedly conservative tilt in the November election, expressed their shock and disdain for this proposal.

Even the local newspaper, that had strongly supported the levy, has condemned this proposal.

The prescription for saving the bus company is fairly simple, really. Get rid of most of the huge buses they currently operate, and which are rarely even half full of riders. Replace them with smaller, more fuel efficient  vehicles. This would allow them to diversify their routes, making it more likely that riders can get from Point A to Point B without transfers, or waiting for hours to make a connection.

Then the city council should ask the Transit Board to resign, replacing them with members who don't have their heads planted deeply up their asses. This board could then hire competent management to continue operating the company in an efficient manner.

But none of this is going to happen. It never works out that way.

They will continue to periodically plead poverty, cut services, and threaten to cease operating.

It's a time honored tradition.

 

Comments

[Mike]

I'd laugh except that we suffered through the same thing here in Charleston. In our case voters other than me voted for a half-cent local sales tax increase to pay for it. To be fair, our regional transportation authority plans to replace some of their large buses with smaller ones so that they don't look so empty.

[Mark]

Same shit, different state and town. Here, our firefighters cry the blues about needing more money, while voting themselves pay raises and extra vacation time. Then they try to hike property taxes by threatening to close firehouses. Blah, blah, blah. Scare tactics instead of common sense solutions.