Community Transit officials will review the bus agency’s $111.8 million budget today, but increases in fares for local passengers won’t be a part of next year’s spending plan.
CT is studying potential rate increases, however, agency spokesman Tom Pearce said Wednesday. The agency last raised local fares in 1998, when they went from 80 cents to $1.
"It’s being looked at as a part of our six-year plan that covers 2004 to 2009. It’s something that could be implemented early in the plan," Pearce said.
Next year’s operating budget is $73.8 million and covers everything from bus driver paychecks to administration and fuel costs. The operating budget has increased 9 percent — mostly because of service expansions and higher fuel costs — since the 2003 budget was amended.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 3 p.m. today at CT headquarters in south Everett.
While next year’s service levels will increase by 1 percent, the most noticeable change may be the addition of a new commuter route to Seattle.
"In the fall, when the Lake Stevens Park-and-Ride opens, we’ll be adding a new route from Lake Stevens to Seattle," Pearce said.
Money also will be budgeted for pay raises next year. The money set aside for bigger paychecks is kept in the agency’s salary pool. Next year’s proposed pool is $1.3 million, a more than 1,000 percent increase over the $113,795 salary pool in the 2003 budget.
The salary pool pays for increases for union workers, plus merit increases and salary adjustments for other employees. Contracts with the agency’s three unions, which cover more than 410 bus drivers, mechanics and supervisors, expire in 2004.
Some employee positions will be cut next year because of attrition and efficiencies, Pearce said. Overall, the number of full-time employees will drop to 598, down from 602.
Most of the money that pays for Community Transit comes from sale tax revenues. The agency estimates it will get $51.1 million in sales tax revenues next year and another $11.5 million in fare box revenues.
The capital budget for 2004 will be $35.7 million. More than $27 million is rollover funds from this year’s capital program.
Roughly $8.3 million in new projects are in next year’s budget, however. Projects include:
Reporter Brian Kelly: 425-339-3422 or kelly@heraldnet.com.
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