Pierce Transit warns of major cuts; proposes sales tax hike
TACOMA -- The slow economy could be taking a toll on Pierce Transit.
The agency is considering laying off some bus drivers and cutting more than 20 bus routes around Tacoma unless it can find new money to balance the budget.
The annual budget is $120 million.
"If we were to remain at our current service levels, by 2012, we would have a $68 million budget deficit," said Pierce Transit spokesperson Lars Erickson.
One option to fill in the budget gap is tacking on a 0.3 percent increase in the sales tax. "We're also looking at state legislation that could give us another revenue source," Erickson says, "(and) we're also looking to the federal government."
An 0.6 percent sales tax already pays for 70 percent of Pierce Transit's budget.
"People don't realize," said bus driver Debbie Erwin. "They think Pierce Transit is rich, but they don't realize it comes through from sales tax. So I tell my customers if you want transportation not to cut back, go out and shop; spend the money."
The agency is expected to make a decision by this summer.In the meantime, the agency's board will hold public meetings to get feedback from the community.
The agency is considering laying off some bus drivers and cutting more than 20 bus routes around Tacoma unless it can find new money to balance the budget.
The annual budget is $120 million.
"If we were to remain at our current service levels, by 2012, we would have a $68 million budget deficit," said Pierce Transit spokesperson Lars Erickson.
One option to fill in the budget gap is tacking on a 0.3 percent increase in the sales tax. "We're also looking at state legislation that could give us another revenue source," Erickson says, "(and) we're also looking to the federal government."
An 0.6 percent sales tax already pays for 70 percent of Pierce Transit's budget.
"People don't realize," said bus driver Debbie Erwin. "They think Pierce Transit is rich, but they don't realize it comes through from sales tax. So I tell my customers if you want transportation not to cut back, go out and shop; spend the money."
The agency is expected to make a decision by this summer.In the meantime, the agency's board will hold public meetings to get feedback from the community.