By Phil Raschke, Lakewood
I like Pierce Transit. What I don’t like is their huge operating expenses underwritten by taxpayers.
The recent Pierce Transit mailer “Proposition 1 Facts and Info” notes only 17% of their costs are covered by fares. Nearly 80% of their budget comes from you and me through the local sales tax and other taxes. While they say they can’t operate in the black due to the economic downturn, they continue to award million dollar annual raises to their employees with the next one scheduled for this coming July 2011.
According to a recent News Tribune story, Pierce Transit wages grew $6.7 million or 13% from 2007 to 2009 while sales tax revenue fell $40 million. The News Tribune also says median earnings for the agency’s transit operators in 2009 was $58,889. With overtime, some made over $90,000.
What about benefits? The News Tribune reported Pierce Transit employees only pay $110 toward the $1,375 monthly cost of a family health plan. This comes to $15,000 added cost per employee plus 35 paid days of holiday, sick leave and vacation.
Additionally, senior managers make over $110,000 and entry Level I mechanics start at $22.67 an hour plus benefits.
Also, a $1.7 million cost of living increase was given in 2010. By 2015, overall employee compensation is projected to rise nearly 40%.
The Seattle Times reported Pierce Transit drivers are paid more money than drivers in Newark, NJ, Pittsburgh, PA and Minneapolis, MN!
Now Pierce Transit says it just raised fares to $2.00 with free transfers. They don’t mention, however, that they didn’t raise fares on the Pierce Shuttle fleet. A one person door to door ride on your own personal Pierce Shuttle cost only $1.50 round trip. No wonder they lose money.
The Pierce Transit mailer also states the proposed tax increase is only 3 cents on a $10 purchase. This could easily average $75 to $90 or more per taxpayer, however, and a News Tribune editorial indicates Pierce Transit is sitting on millions in cash reserves, but doesn’t want to spend them.
If Pierce Transit can’t close its budget gap with current revenue and cash reserves, perhaps additional fare increases, reduced routing during non-peak, low passenger hours or temporary benefit reductions should be taken before asking taxpayers for more money.
Personally, I am feeling a little tapped out lately. How about you?
KC says
What no one is saying is that ridership is increasing due to the downturn in the economic market. Many people have lost their homes, had their vehicles repossessed, or plain can’t afford the insurance or maintenance. Like all other hospitals in the area, Pierce Transit take patients and staff to their destinations many, many times a day. Specifically Pierce Transit makes 27 trips to the VA hospital on week days and 14 or so on weekends. In addition the buses are stading room only during peak commute hours because Pierce Transit serves as the only source of public transportation to two high schools (Lakes and Clover Park). The people riding the shuttles are usually elderly and disabled without other means of transportation, so $1.50 is alot compared to their total income. Pierce Transit and its services are vital to this community (hospitals, schools, businesses/shopping, etc.) for thousands of people every day and desparately needs to be resourced appropriately.
Compare the salary and benefits of Pierce Transit to other local industries leaders. Comparisons to only the east coast doesn’t have the same cost of living structures as the west coast. San Francisco’s bus situation is far more expensive and dire with all their service cutbacks. Please put things into the proper prospectives.
Sam says
I’am all for the prop 1. And for the rest of you people i’m so sick and tried of hearing you complain about their wages. Maybe you should have tried to get a job with PT, or perhaps you just don’t have a good enough driving record.Bottom line the drivers are working for the wages they are making, just cause they make more then you do, don’t take it out on them. just get of your asses and do something about it! “YES” on “PROP 1”!!
Wade Stewart says
I am going to vote Yes, and I do understand there are inefficiencies in government. Voting NO isn’t going to change that. Pierce Transit’s takeaway from a failure of this measure will not be “Well people think we don’t do things right so we’re going to have to change how we do business!” The takeaway is a takeaway: people will lose the transit services they depend on and many of them are the most vulnerable people in our communities. Let’s work to make a change in Pierce Transit leadership by addressing it directly to them, or through our county representatives and not through some passive-aggressive vote against a service our community really needs.
bobedington says
It seems that some people would end all services to citizens (especially the neediest) RATHER THAN RAISE TAXES. If Pierce Transit is costing too much, we can do something about that other than voting against this proposition. Talk to the mayors and city managers within Pierce County. They hold some important purse-strings. Several of these routes serve the least powerful among us. Some of those riders have no other means of transportation. I am not fond of raising taxes, but I will vote for this proposition.
RVE
Sean Graver says
Pierce Transit performs a valuable service, but must live within their means. After you have cut every possible expense, assured that your employees are paying their fair share for benefits and made sure the rates charged per rider are at the highest reasonable level, then we can talk about how to fix the budget shortfall. Maybe new leadership is needed. It works in the rest of the business world.
Malcolm says
If not forced to the needed adjustments just won’t happen. These are the Pierce Transit positions that pay over $100k a year, it includes PR directors and HR managers all making great CEO level salaries not to mention the very expensive Cadillac pensions & benefits plans.
$205,853 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER $205,853
$162,073 VP-FINANCE, AUDIT & ADMINISTRATION $162,073
$153,933 VP-HUMAN RESOURCES & TECHNOLOGY $153.933
$150,257 VP-TRANSPORTATION SERVICES $150,257
$126,397 DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT $126,397
$126,372 DIRECTOR OF MAINTENANCE $126,372
$126,372 DIRECTOR OF LABOR & EMPLOYEE RELATIONS $126,372
$126,372 DIRECTOR OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY $126,372
$126,372 DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS $126,372
$126,372 DIRECTOR OF FINANCE $126,372
$119,172 SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER $119,172
$118,991 CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY $118,991
$117,183 DIRECTOR OF SCHEDULING & PLANNING $117,183
$114,475 SAFETY & TRAINING MANAGER $114,475
$111,795 BUDGET MANAGER $111,795
$110,595 EMPLOYMENT MANAGER $110,595
$110,410 ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING MANAGER $110,410
$110,322 BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER $110,322
$110,108 PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER $110,108
$107,616 FLEET MANAGER-BUS $107,616
$104,405 BENEFITS & COMPENSATION MGR. $104,405
$103,930 COMMUNICATION CENTER MANAGER $103,930
$101,433 QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER $101,433
$101,430 SPECIALIZED TRANSPORTATION $101,430
$100,831 SERVICE SUPPORT MANAGER $100,831