Message forwarded from Rick Silver, representing the Central Midlans Regional Transit Authority:

From: Rick Silver
Sent: Tuesday, July 18, 2006 9:50 AM
Subject: Richland County Council Exhibits Strong Leadership
 
Dear Friends:
 
Last week Richland County Council took a major step in maintaining public
transportation for the Riverbanks Region. By identifying a temporary dedicated
source of funding for the Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority, the
council has prevented the need for severe service reductions in Richland
County for at least one year, if given third reading. As you well know, the
CMRTA previously anticipated that a lack of funding would require them to
begin in January 2007 to implement service reductions of about 85 percent.
 
On behalf of the CMRTA and community at-large, I cannot thank you enough for
your concern and willingness to champion this issue. Your letters, time, input
and tireless effort did much to encourage Richland County Council to take
action and develop a temporary solution for our community’s funding crisis.
 
The following is a brief synopsis of what happened at the council’s most
recent meeting on Tuesday, July 11:

  □ During a work session with the CMRTA, Richland County Council explored the
    CMRTA’s current funding issues and thoroughly discussed and examined each
    of the three funding possibilities that were on the table: a vehicle
    registration fee, a one-cent sales tax and a property tax increase.
  □ In a following council meeting, they unanimously agreed that, while a
    viable future option, a one-cent sales tax increase is not feasible at
    this time.  Their consensus was that they would not be able to responsibly
    develop a prioritized list of transportation projects to utilize excess
    funds generated by a penny before the November election.
  □ Therefore, in order to provide the temporary funding while laying the
    proper groundwork for placing a sales tax referendum question on the
    ballot in the 2008 general election, the council gave second reading to
    create a temporary solution for funding the CMRTA that will be in place
    for one or two years in order to provide the time to create a long-term
    transportation plan.
  □ Funding will come from a $20 increase in private vehicle registration and
    a $30 increase in commercial vehicle registration. This funding will
    provide about $5.5 million dollars per year to be used by the CMRTA for
    operating funds.
  □ In addition, council voted to create a 33-member committee to analyze
    transportation needs in the county and create a prioritized list of
    projects.  We are sure that all of us vested in this issue would like to
    maintain involvement during this process.
  □ Also during this meeting, both the one-cent sales tax option and the
    option for a property tax increase were tabled.

This action taken by Richland County Council was responsible, as well as bold
and brave. Already the council members have begun to get attacked via e-mail
and telephone by anti-tax groups and citizens who do not recognize how vital
this funding is for the health and vitality of our community. The ordinance
must still have a public hearing and receive third reading to become law, so
it is imperative that members of council also hear from supporters of their
efforts and know that we support their actions. Please join us in thanking
Richland County Council for their courageous efforts to save the public
transportation system in the Riverbanks Region. I implore you to thank and
encourage them with your own e-mails, letters and phone calls of support.
Below you’ll find contact information for the council members.
 
I cannot tell you how much your support and collaboration has contributed to
the success we have experienced so far. Again, I thank you and look forward to
working with you as we continue to move public transportation forward for the
people of this region.
 
Sincerely,
 
Rick Silver
Representing Central Midlands Regional Transit Authority  

 

Richland County Council
Council District	Representative	Primary Phone	Alt. Phone	E-mail Address
1	Doris M. Corley	734-3139	932-2203	doriscorley@richlandonlinecom
2	Joyce Dickerson	750-0154	518-8033	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
3	Damon Jeter	254-0358	253-8663	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
4	Paul Livingston	765-1192		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
5	Kit Smith	254-0542		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
6	L. Gregory Pearce, Jr., Vice-Chair	783-8792		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
7	Joseph McEachern	786-8304		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
8	Mike Montgomery	779-3500		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
9	Val Hutchinson	462-1373		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
10	Bernice G. Scott	256-4000	647-7524	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
11	Tony Mizzell, Council Chair	776-8788		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Interim County Administrator	J. Milton Pope	576-2054		This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it