Latte Republic is fact checking Mr. Bonner's claims. In the interim, here is Brett's latest press release on the WTA :
*Update - Sam Taylor has done an excellent fact check over on the Politics blog - please click here to read his post:
(Bellingham, WA) Positive retail sales numbers just released by the state indicate that the Whatcom Transportation Authority has no need to cut bus service, according to a local non-partisan group.
New figures from the Washington Department of Revenue show that 2010 first quarter retail sales in Whatcom County increased 1.2 percent over the same period in 2009, totaling $634.7 million.
Whatcom Information Center Spokesperson Brett Bonner said the news is good for local residents who ride the bus—if the WTA Board refrains from making threatened cuts.
“The new figures show that things are slowly improving. Since the WTA budget was written with no projected increase in sales tax revenue this year, things are definitely looking up.” said Bonner.
Bonner led the fight earlier this year against a proposed WTA sales tax increase, which was defeated at the polls on April 27th. Bonner’s group maintained that the WTA had enough in reserves to cover any shortfalls until the economy recovered, and that no service cuts were necessary.
“We have always maintained that there is no crisis at the WTA, and the new retail sales numbers back that up,” Bonner said. “Another indicator that the WTA Board has been over exaggerating the extent of the problem is that nearly three months have gone by since the election and the WTA Board hasn’t done anything. That doesn’t sound like a crisis to me.”
Another indicator that the WTA is not facing a dire situation is the fact that the WTA Board has not re-negotiated its union contract. The Whatcom Information Center believes that no service cuts should happen at the WTA until all cost saving ideas are explored.
Cities and states across the country have been talking about temporary wage and benefit reductions for public employees; in Washington state employees are being furloughed to maintain essential services. But Bonner points out that it is business as usual at the WTA. “The WTA has a large reserve fund. Local sales tax revenue is on the rise. If there are cuts to bus service, it will be a conscious decision by the WTA Board and the union to put themselves ahead of local residents who rely on this vital transportation service,”
According to an article in the Bellingham Herald, the latest numbers show the influence of Canadian shoppers who are taking advantage of a favorable exchange rate to shop in Whatcom County. And the situation is likely to get even better, with cross border traffic continuing to improve at the end of the second quarter.
The Whatcom Information Center is a non-partisan, independent organization focusing on ensuring government efficiency and fiscal responsibility; providing new ideas and progressive policies; improving our business climate; and protecting and promoting the rights of the individual
Read Dave Gallagher's Bellingham Herald article, "Whatcom County sees increase in retail sales in first quarter" at http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2010/07/09/1518665/whatcom-county-sees-increase-in.html
Who decided that this this organization was "a local non-partisan group" -- its founder Brett Bonner?
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ReplyDeleteYou are correct - non-partisan is Bonner's self discription of his own organization.
My back of the envelope math tells me that sales tax would have to increase by 7% and be sustained for several quarters in order to repair the existing WTA deficit and the ever increasing cost of fuel and the failed health care system in this nation.
His comments about Canadian shoppers do not acknowledge the possibility that Canadians will remain exempt from our sales tax and will not contribute a single penny to the WTA.
As for his statements about re-opening contract negotiations - he failed to note that the contract already has reopeners built in to the current contract, and that the WTA will begin negotiations during the next 2 months.
Now, let me play devil's advocate. If Bonner expects WTA workers to make up for the shortfall, does he expect each of the employees to take a $20,000 per year cut in pay? Really Brett? Would you do the same for your employer?
Brett's allegations that WTA drivers are overpaid are false. WTA drivers are paid in line with prevailing wages for municipal bus drivers and they are not compared to tour bus operators or milk truck drivers.
In fact, if the WTA were to go to PERC to seek an enforced wage cut, they would get nowhere.
This is nothing more than political grandstanding by Mr. Bonner.
Brett Bonner for mayor!
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