TO: Burnis Morris
FROM: Katie Quinonez
March 31, 2011
RE: Story Outline: Tri-State Transit Ridership Increase
Subject: TTA ridership increased due to high gas prices.
Scope: I can look at TTA ridership for the past five years and see how it has fluctuated.
Need: High gas prices affect everyone in the country, particularly people who live in remote areas, such as various towns in the state of West Virginia, and have to travel great distances to get to work or school.
Methods: I can compare TTA ridership over the last five years and see how it has fluctuated with gas prices.
Sources: I can talk to Paul Davis, the CEO of TTA, to get information about TTA funding and get ridership statistics. I can also talk to people who ride the TTA and learn about their experiences, as well as bus drivers.
Presentation: This can be a two-part presentation. It first can be about the testimonials of individuals who ride the bus and the bus drivers. The second could be about TTA funding and what a lack of funding could mean for TTA riders.
Follow-up: When the continuing resolutions that fund the TTA after the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act expired in fiscal year 2009, I can talk to Davis about TTA funding. I can talk to him about potential layoffs and contingency plans. Davis has already said layoffs will occur as a last resort after higher bus fares and cut routes, which clearly affects TTA riders.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Mayor's proposed budget revised
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
With the current state of the economy, it is particularly difficult for local governments to fathom even a minor increase in revenue to fund the most basic of necessities such as infrastructure upkeep and filling law enforcement positions.
Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 shows a projected $2 million decrease in revenue from the previous fiscal year with grants included, with a total of $41.8 million. Expenditures are expected to be the same amount.
City revenues through June 30, 2011 are expected to be about $41.6 million with grants. Expenditures are expected to be about $1 million less than that.
City expenditures for fiscal year 2009-2010 were budgeted for $44.9 million, but actual expenditures were $4.2 million less than that. Revenues were budgeted for the same amount as expenditures and were about $4.4 million less.
The business and occupation tax have been the city's highest sources of revenue for the past three fiscal years. The current budget has allowed $15.8 million in B&O tax revenues while the proposed budget for the next fiscal year projects $16.3 million in revenues.
The Huntington Police Department accounts for the highest expected expenditure in the proposed budget. The department’s proposed budget is $10.9 million, an approximate $400,000 decrease from the current budget.
The police department will be receiving four new high definition surveillance cameras, which will bring the total number of surveillance cameras used in the city to 21, said Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
“This is an industry standard that law enforcement has moved to that basically allows us to provide a higher level service in the absence of personnel,” Holbrook said. “When people know there is a camera monitoring them, it tends to curtail some of the activity that if the cameras weren’t there might take place.
Administration and Finance director Brandi Jacobs-Jones said the successful bidder to furnish the cameras is McDaniel Electric of Huntington. The total cost will be $52,000 and Homeland Security grant monies will cover $51,000 of the costs.
Holbrook said the police department relies on grant money to supplement city money received in previous fiscal years.
The police and fire department were both asked by the city to give up money in their budgets to go toward the paving of roads in the city. The police department gave up about $70,000 and the fire department gave up about $200,000, according to the finalized budget.
An issue that perplexes most people is how city officials determine total revenue and expenditures for each fiscal year.
The city’s finance director, Deron Runyan, said the first thing city officials do is look at the current year and estimate where the city’s finances will total. From there they make adjustments.
Runyan said from there each department in January submits expected expenditures for the following fiscal year. He said items such as gas and utilities were in particular budgeted too low.
“Each department puts their list of all their employees and what the expected costs are and then we give them a baseline of what they submitted,” Runyan said. “Outside of that, they submitted a list of capital improvements they would like to make.”
Runyan said he has been the city’s finance director for three years, and every year departments are given a budget lower than their initial request.
With the current state of the economy, it is particularly difficult for local governments to fathom even a minor increase in revenue to fund the most basic of necessities such as infrastructure upkeep and filling law enforcement positions.
Huntington Mayor Kim Wolfe’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2011-2012 shows a projected $2 million decrease in revenue from the previous fiscal year with grants included, with a total of $41.8 million. Expenditures are expected to be the same amount.
City revenues through June 30, 2011 are expected to be about $41.6 million with grants. Expenditures are expected to be about $1 million less than that.
City expenditures for fiscal year 2009-2010 were budgeted for $44.9 million, but actual expenditures were $4.2 million less than that. Revenues were budgeted for the same amount as expenditures and were about $4.4 million less.
The business and occupation tax have been the city's highest sources of revenue for the past three fiscal years. The current budget has allowed $15.8 million in B&O tax revenues while the proposed budget for the next fiscal year projects $16.3 million in revenues.
The Huntington Police Department accounts for the highest expected expenditure in the proposed budget. The department’s proposed budget is $10.9 million, an approximate $400,000 decrease from the current budget.
The police department will be receiving four new high definition surveillance cameras, which will bring the total number of surveillance cameras used in the city to 21, said Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
“This is an industry standard that law enforcement has moved to that basically allows us to provide a higher level service in the absence of personnel,” Holbrook said. “When people know there is a camera monitoring them, it tends to curtail some of the activity that if the cameras weren’t there might take place.
Administration and Finance director Brandi Jacobs-Jones said the successful bidder to furnish the cameras is McDaniel Electric of Huntington. The total cost will be $52,000 and Homeland Security grant monies will cover $51,000 of the costs.
Holbrook said the police department relies on grant money to supplement city money received in previous fiscal years.
The police and fire department were both asked by the city to give up money in their budgets to go toward the paving of roads in the city. The police department gave up about $70,000 and the fire department gave up about $200,000, according to the finalized budget.
An issue that perplexes most people is how city officials determine total revenue and expenditures for each fiscal year.
The city’s finance director, Deron Runyan, said the first thing city officials do is look at the current year and estimate where the city’s finances will total. From there they make adjustments.
Runyan said from there each department in January submits expected expenditures for the following fiscal year. He said items such as gas and utilities were in particular budgeted too low.
“Each department puts their list of all their employees and what the expected costs are and then we give them a baseline of what they submitted,” Runyan said. “Outside of that, they submitted a list of capital improvements they would like to make.”
Runyan said he has been the city’s finance director for three years, and every year departments are given a budget lower than their initial request.
Sidebar: Police and Fire
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
The Huntington Fire Department‘s proposed FY 2011-2012 budget decreased by $10,000, according to Mayor Kim Wolfe’s proposed budget. The current estimated budget through June 30, 2011 is $10.3 million and the proposed budget allows $10.3 million for expenditures. The fire department’s budget has decreased by one percent since 2009.
The Huntington Police Department’s proposed FY 2011-2012 budget has decreased by more than $93,000 from the current budget, according to Wolfe’s proposed budget. The current estimated budget through June 30, 2011 is $11 million and the proposed budget allows $10.9 million. The proposed budget has decreased by five percent since 2009.
Table 1
Fire and Police Expenditures
Department FY 2009-2010 FY 2010-2011 (Est. through 6/30/11) FY 2011-2012 (Proposed)
Fire $10,396,405 $10,372,117 $10,362,836
Police $10,839,725 $11,070,353 $10,977,181
Source: Proposed 2012 Budget
Table 2
Proposed 2011 Budget Highlights
Department FY 2010-2011 FY 2011-2012
Fire $11,004,524 $10,362,836
Police $10,252,681 $10,977,181
Source: Proposed 2012 Budget
The Huntington Fire Department‘s proposed FY 2011-2012 budget decreased by $10,000, according to Mayor Kim Wolfe’s proposed budget. The current estimated budget through June 30, 2011 is $10.3 million and the proposed budget allows $10.3 million for expenditures. The fire department’s budget has decreased by one percent since 2009.
The Huntington Police Department’s proposed FY 2011-2012 budget has decreased by more than $93,000 from the current budget, according to Wolfe’s proposed budget. The current estimated budget through June 30, 2011 is $11 million and the proposed budget allows $10.9 million. The proposed budget has decreased by five percent since 2009.
Table 1
Fire and Police Expenditures
Department FY 2009-2010 FY 2010-2011 (Est. through 6/30/11) FY 2011-2012 (Proposed)
Fire $10,396,405 $10,372,117 $10,362,836
Police $10,839,725 $11,070,353 $10,977,181
Source: Proposed 2012 Budget
Table 2
Proposed 2011 Budget Highlights
Department FY 2010-2011 FY 2011-2012
Fire $11,004,524 $10,362,836
Police $10,252,681 $10,977,181
Source: Proposed 2012 Budget
Huntington City Council adopts several ordinances
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
The Huntington City Council adopted several ordinances Monday evening during a city council meeting.
The council adopted an ordinance to amend the current zoning ordinance of the city, 1998 and the zone map. Administration and Finance Director Brandi Jacobs Jones said the ordinance received unanimous favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission.
The council also adopted an ordinance recommending the mayor to enter into a contract to provide the Huntington Police Department with a video surveillance network. The network will consist of four additional cameras, which will bring the total of surveillance cameras in use to 21, said Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
Jones said the successful bidder to furnish the cameras is McDaniel Electric of Huntington. The total cost will be $52,000. Homeland Security grant monies will be used to cover over $51,000 of the costs.
A Huntington citizen who attended the meeting became outraged at the council for adopting the ordinance, at which point he became belligerent and refused to let the meeting continue. He said an alternative to a video surveillance network would be to have local church pastors go with police officers to houses and check in on citizens.
The council also referred an ordinance for the mayor to enter into a contract to furnish the Huntington Fire Department with one new 2011 Ford Expedition to the Committee on Finance. Jones said the successful bidder was Stephens Auto of Danville, W.Va. The total cost is $27,196.
The council appointed James Hensley to his first term on the Huntington Municipal Development Authority and James F. Duke, Jr. to his first term on the Urban Forestry Committee.
The Huntington City Council adopted several ordinances Monday evening during a city council meeting.
The council adopted an ordinance to amend the current zoning ordinance of the city, 1998 and the zone map. Administration and Finance Director Brandi Jacobs Jones said the ordinance received unanimous favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission.
The council also adopted an ordinance recommending the mayor to enter into a contract to provide the Huntington Police Department with a video surveillance network. The network will consist of four additional cameras, which will bring the total of surveillance cameras in use to 21, said Police Chief Skip Holbrook.
Jones said the successful bidder to furnish the cameras is McDaniel Electric of Huntington. The total cost will be $52,000. Homeland Security grant monies will be used to cover over $51,000 of the costs.
A Huntington citizen who attended the meeting became outraged at the council for adopting the ordinance, at which point he became belligerent and refused to let the meeting continue. He said an alternative to a video surveillance network would be to have local church pastors go with police officers to houses and check in on citizens.
The council also referred an ordinance for the mayor to enter into a contract to furnish the Huntington Fire Department with one new 2011 Ford Expedition to the Committee on Finance. Jones said the successful bidder was Stephens Auto of Danville, W.Va. The total cost is $27,196.
The council appointed James Hensley to his first term on the Huntington Municipal Development Authority and James F. Duke, Jr. to his first term on the Urban Forestry Committee.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
City Council meeting, March 28, 2011
I will be attending the City Council meeting tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.
According to the agenda, the council will review the following ordinaces:
According to the agenda, the council will review the following ordinaces:
- amendment of Huntington zoning ordinance
- modification and re-enactment of Article 1357
- council authorization of the mayor to enter into a contract to furnish the Huntington Sanitary Board with polymer
- council authorization of the mayor to enter into a contract to furnish the Huntington Fire Department with a mobile generator set
- council authorization of the mayor to enter into a contract to furnish the Huntington Police Department with a video surveillance system
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
TTA ridership up with higher gas prices
BY KATIE QUINONEZ
The Tri-State Transit Authority's bus ridership is up 17,913 trips for year to date, a .03 percent increase.
Ridership for the month of January 2011 showed an additional 3, 112 customers boarded TTA's buses and Dial-A-Ride vans, according to the performance report. General manager and CEO Paul Davis said the increase in ridership is due to the recent increase in gas and diesel costs.
Davis said TTA continues to remain under the three dollar budget allocated for diesel prices. He said though this may change with increasing gas prices, unless gas prices spike to at least five dollars, TTA will remain under the budget.
Davis recently attended the American Public Transit Association's legislative conference in Washington, D.C. where the following topics were discussed:
During the March board meeting, members briefly discussed layoff contingency plans. Davis said in the event layoffs would occur, they would most likely happen over a three-year period. Davis said layoffs would be a last resort and that the agency would most likely increase bus fares or eliminate less productive bus routes first.
The Tri-State Transit Authority's bus ridership is up 17,913 trips for year to date, a .03 percent increase.
Ridership for the month of January 2011 showed an additional 3, 112 customers boarded TTA's buses and Dial-A-Ride vans, according to the performance report. General manager and CEO Paul Davis said the increase in ridership is due to the recent increase in gas and diesel costs.
Davis said TTA continues to remain under the three dollar budget allocated for diesel prices. He said though this may change with increasing gas prices, unless gas prices spike to at least five dollars, TTA will remain under the budget.
Davis recently attended the American Public Transit Association's legislative conference in Washington, D.C. where the following topics were discussed:
- Re-authorization of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act, the transportation bill that expired in fiscal year 2009. When it expired Congress passed a Continuing Resolutions to fund the program until April 2011. The resolution eliminates the Federal Railroad Administration's program that helps railroads pay for new safety technology, which would cut $6 billion from the current budget.
- TTA's proposition of combining several grant programs to reduce the administrative duties required to manage these grants. This would reduce costs by lessening the burden on transit personnel.
- The urbanized area issue regarding Charleston and Huntington. TTA recommended the two cities be exempted from the Census Bureau's plan to combine the areas.
During the March board meeting, members briefly discussed layoff contingency plans. Davis said in the event layoffs would occur, they would most likely happen over a three-year period. Davis said layoffs would be a last resort and that the agency would most likely increase bus fares or eliminate less productive bus routes first.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Attending TTA board meeting tomorrow
I will be attending the Tri-State Transit Authority's monthly board meeting tomorrow morning. Attending the board meeting and speaking to TTA CEO Paul Davis will give me the information I need to complete my sidebar for the fifth major assignment. I will ask Davis about the budget over the past three fiscal years and whether or not there was an increase/decrease. I will also ask what the major plans are for the TTA over the next fiscal year.
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