Topeka Transit: To raise the mill levy?

Tomorrow night, May 12, 2009, our City Council along with our Mayor will have a very tough decision to make.  They have to decide whether or not to vote to add a charter ordinance which will increase the mill levy cap for Topeka Transit.  It essentially is a two-mill increase which would raise the property tax on a $100,000 house by $23 a year (CJOnline: Council to vote on TMTA Proposal).  There is no denying that Transit is essential to the economic development of our city.  There needs to be easy access to public transportation for its residents to get to and from their jobs and for tourists who want to easily navigate the cities attractions.

TransformTopeka has in the past asked guest bloggers to post an argument for each side of these type of important issues, but due to the time constraints (the charter ordinance will be voted on tomorrow night), we felt it best to just present as much information about the issue and allow for comments to argue both sides.  I have a very strong opinion on this issue, but will try and keep my opinion to myself as I share the information about the issue.

It all started at the beginning of 2009 when the Topeka Metropolitan Transit Authority (TMTA) board voted to eliminate evening and Sunday bus services (now set to occur on May 24, 2009 according to Topeka Transit’s website).  In March, citizens who rely on these services asked the City Council for help, the city attorney advised the Council of options (including raising the mill levy by 3-mill), and finally TMTA officials asked for the Councils help.  TMTA’s CEO, Janlyn Nesbett-Tucker, stated that funding couldn’t be identified the TMTA would have to eventually eliminate over 40% of its service (meaning that evening and Sunday service would be just the beginning).  There are approximatly 15,000 Transit users and TMTA delivers about 2 million trips a year (CJOnline: Transit Board Delays Cuts).

Towards the end of April, there was another glimmer of hope for Transit riders, it was going to receive an additional $2 million in additional federal funding which, when added to the $2.5 million it was already getting, it could replace between 12-14 of its 51 aging buses.  Nesbett-Tucker says that while this helps, TMTA still needs more.  42 0f its 51 buses are retirement-eligible (12 years old and have at least 500,000 miles on them).  This money came from the stimulus program passed earlier this year (CJOnline: $2 Million Rolled out for City Buses).

TMTA made presentations to the Council in late April pleading their case for increase taxpayer funding.  Some of the things that TMTA presented to the Council:

  • Smaller buses? Council members say they hear that question all the time. People see buses going by with few passengers and wonder why TMTA doesn’t use smaller buses to save money. The fact is, TMTA officials say, that going to smaller buses would actually cost more. The bigger buses are built to last 12 years and travel 500,000 miles before they need to be replaced. Smaller buses would need to be replaced more often and would require more maintenance.
  • Furthermore, there are times of the day when even the big buses are full. Two or three times as many small buses would be needed during those peak times, increasing not only the cost of buying the buses but requiring more drivers.
  • The state giveth and the state taketh away. While the state’s transit systems receive some financial help from the state, they also have to pay the state motor fuel tax. TMTA in 2007 received $460,462 in state funding, but paid more than $100,000 in motor fuel tax.
  • Increase bus fares? TMTA did raise its fares in 2008. The standard fare went to $1.25 a trip after having been $1 for three years. But increasing the fares doesn’t really help all that much in covering the expenses. Fare box revenue represents only 14 percent of the TMTA budget. And raising the rate by 25 percent doesn’t necessarily increase fare box revenue by 25 percent. Some people stop riding the bus because of the increased fare (CJOnline: TMTA Runs Through Options).

Finally came a proposal from Councilwoman Deborah Swank to add a charter ordinance to increase the trasit tax cap to 5 mills (an increase of 2 mills).  This ordinance, if approved, will not take effect for 60 days to allow for citizens to collect signatures on a protest petition (as required by state law).  This brings us to tomorrow night.  For this to pass: 7 members of the 10 member governing body (City Council and Mayor) must vote in favor of this addition (CJOnline: Proposal Has Built-in Delay).

In the midst of the decision facing the Council came an offer from a local strategic planning firm, Anderson Montgomery, LLC, to take a look at the operations of TMTA free of charge.  Unfortunately the review of the operations will not be done in time for tomorrow’s vote (CJOnline: Council to Vote on TMTA Proposal).

I know how I feel about the proposed mill levy increase and wrote the Council and Mayor an email explaining my position and asking for their vote.  KTKA says that taxpayers are mixed on the increase (KTKA: Topeka Taxpayers Mixed on Transit Tax Increase).  How do you feel?  Do you believe that the Council should increase the mill levy to help sustain TMTA?  Do you feel that the Council should wait to see what Anderson Montgomery, LLC has to say about the efficiency of operations of TMTA before voting to increase the mill levy?  Please make your voice heard both here and by writing Council Members and the Mayor before tomorrow evening’s meeting.

Last 5 posts in Topeka News

blog comments powered by Disqus