WRTA to ask voters for sales tax

By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- With layoffs and service cuts imminent without additional public money, the Western Reserve Transit Authority board plans to ask voters to approve a sales tax.
Jim Ferraro, executive director said at a board meeting Thursday the only transit systems in Ohio that operate without a sales tax are Toledo and Cincinnati. He said Toledo voters approved a replacement levy for a property tax, and Cincinnati receives money from that city's general fund.
Ferraro suggested WRTA would seek a 1/4-cent sales tax. He said faced with a potential $1.5 million deficit, layoffs and service cuts loom.
The transit authority was to host a public hearing today on its first fare increases since 1999, which are to take effect June 1. The board also will accept comments in writing from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through May 5.
Ferraro has said loss of federal and state funding and increases in insurance, diesel fuel and natural gas could result in a deficit as much as $1.5 million. He said the transit authority likely will pay $1 million for bus fuel this year.
Although fare increases will help, the additional revenue will barely make a dent in operating expenses, Ferraro said. If ridership remains unchanged, the fare increases will generate an additional $300,000, he said.
Who must approve
Ferraro said the board must seek approval from Mahoning County commissioners to place a sales tax request before voters. The board also is seeking support from Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams in the effort.
Ferraro said Williams has expressed support of public transit, and WRTA in particular. Board members also noted Commissioner David Ludt has always supported the transit authority's efforts.
WRTA can only seek public money through a sales tax or a property tax, Ferraro said. He said he'd like to place a levy on the November ballot, but it might not be possible to complete all the required procedures by then.
Ferraro also said he does not want WRTA on the ballot when the transit authority would be competing with a number of school districts for taxpayers' dollars.
Two levies approved by voters in November 2005 generate about $2 million annually, but the levies were renewals, so they don't generate any new money, Ferraro added. He said the levies that were renewed have generated the same amount for about 10 years.
WRTA's cost per mile was $5.14 in March and $5.25 for the year to date, compared to $4.68 in March 2005 and $5.04 for the first three months of 2005, Ferraro said.
Average daily ridership for March was 6,377, compared with 5,838 in March 2005, Ferraro said. Of that total, the average for full-fare adults was 2,496, and the average for senior citizens was 1,521, he said. In March 2005, the average for full-fare adults was 2,290 and the senior citizens' average was 1,450.
Salary ranges
In other business, the board approved staff salary ranges for these positions: secretary-treasurer/assistant executive director, $50,000 to $90,000; director of maintenance, director of transportation, director of human resources, $40,000 to $80,000; chief dispatcher, $35,000 to $80,000; dispatcher, maintenance foreman, chief bookkeeper, $30,000 to $50,000; senior bookkeeper, $20,000 to $40,000; bookkeeper, $20,000 to $35,000; purchasing clerk, customer service administrator, $25,000 to $40,000; Federal Station information/pass sales clerk, $20,000 to $35,000; information clerk typist, $15,000 to $30,000.
tullis@vindy.com