Thursday, February 28, 2008
YOUNGSTOWN — Western Reserve Transit Authority officials made their last pleas for the 0.25 percent sales tax levy today, saying public transportation is a regional economic issue.
“We keep talking about making the residents of Mahoning County more productive,” said Jim Ferraro, WRTA director. “It’s very difficult to do that without an automobile at the beginning.”
Issue 1 — the WRTA proposal before voters Tuesday — would make the transportation authority countywide and eliminate the 5-mill property tax in Youngstown, which has been supporting the bus service. The five-year levy would generate about $7.5 million annually. About $2.5 million in property tax revenue would be eliminated.
WRTA discontinued about 40 percent of its routes, citing budget insufficiencies last year. Ferraro blames reduced state funding and increasing energy costs for the financial troubles.
About $2 million in reductions were imposed through route reductions and layoffs. Weekend and late-night service was eliminated as a result.
“The sense that we had was that it has really hurt a lot of families,” Ferraro said.
For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.