KCMO city manager's budget threatens public transit
February 23, 2009
Public transit in Kansas City, Mo., is in danger of being cut back. The city manager's budget proposes a $4.5 million increase in the amount of funds diverted from the ½-cent Public Mass Transportation Fund. This is a huge decrease in the city’s contract with the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). That cut would require a reduction of up to 10 percent in transit service — less frequent service and/or elimination of some routes.
City support for transit comes from sales taxes that were approved by voters, most recently just last year. Sales tax revenues are down because of the recession, but now the city proposes to divert even more of that sales tax revenue to other purposes. That's wrong.
The mayor and council will revise the budget before adopting it, and they are now taking public comment.
Please contact the mayor and your council person by phone, letter, e-mail or in person at one of the public meetings.
Simply click on the photo of the mayor and/or council members you wish to contact. If you do not know your district number, you may enter your street address in the box provided.
Below is the schedule of remaining public meetings:
- Saturday, Feb, 28 (District 4), 10:00 a.m. to noon – Central Methodist Church, 51st and Oak
- Saturday, March 7 (District 1), 10:00 a.m. to noon – Northland Neighborhoods, 3015 NE Vivion Road
Here are key messages to be communicated:
- In a time of economic recession, people need public transit more than ever.
- Transit riders are already being asked to pay more to ride (effective March 1).
- With growing ridership and growing public support for transit, this is no time to cut funding and force a reduction in service.
- We expect our transit sales taxes to be used for transit. Stop diverting it to other purposes.
