GCTA looks to tighten purse strings

POMEROY-Director Rachel Anderson and Operations Manager Jeff Ruchert outlined how the passage of Initiative 976 in November will affect the operations and budget of the GCTA for 2020.

Any plans or projects not already in place will not be funded, such as the purchase of two new vans, Anderson said. A plan was made for a van pool to benefit commuters making daily trips to the same location, such as the Lyons Ferry Columbia Pulp facility. Two vans had been procured through a grant, but with limited funds, will not be possible. The GCTA stands to lose 50% to 70% of state funds for transportation and they may have to cut back the number of trips they now make to the Lewis-Clark Valley, she said.

Currently the GCTA buses travel to the valley four days per week, but consider cutting back to one or two days per week. Extra travel to special events will be totally paid for by the riders. The total effects of the initiative passing will not be known until 2020, and probably not until the end of the next State Legislative Session. The GCTA will use funds previously set aside for capital improvements, for usual operations, and will conclude the 2019 budget before considering 2020 cutbacks.

The GCTA has joined a legal action with other agencies from the Seattle area to protest the initiative, and possibly achieve an injunction blocking it. An attorney has not been hired at this time to represent the GCTA.

Anderson is being encouraged to attend meetings to represent the face of a rural county with a high percentage of older residents who depend on their public transportation services. The county governments are being told that they need to support the initiative if their voters approved it, but according to the feedback received by Anderson, she claims that many of the voters did not understand what effects the initiative would carry for the Pomeroy community. Mayor Paul Miller agreed that there is no harm in being “their model” in the lawsuit, but he wouldn’t support any suggestion of replacing the initiative with a state income tax.

The Washington State Transit Association (WSTA) has offered to pay for Anderson’s travel and lodging so she can participate in the lawsuit as a presenter at the November 26 meeting. They will also be covering any legal fees. Unfortunately, she is currently committed to appointments with clients through the Aging and Long Term Care (ALTC) office, and has a full schedule until the closing deadline for Medicare insurance enrollments December 7. Ruchert may have to go in her place, however, the attorney for the lawsuit said her attendance is not absolutely necessary.

Due to the uncertainty of the availability of funds for 2020, a decision approving the budget which included a two-year operating grant (July 1, 2019) and a special needs grant is deferred until December 16. The GCTA expects to receive capital match money slated for a new bus already ordered arriving in January or February 2020. They must also consider that the County gave a 3% increase in wages for all County employees for 2020.

County Commissioner Bob Johnson made a motion to extend that increase to the GCTA employees, which was seconded by Mayor Miller, and subsequently approved. The 3% increase will apply to all employees except Anderson. Commissioner Wynne McCabe suggested that they take a look at restructuring her wages because currently she is averaging just over $300 per month, but is spending much more time than what she reports. Other counties pay much more to their transit directors, such as $100,000 per year by Walla Walla County, and $75,000 per year by Ferry County. A decision on Anderson’s wages for 2020 will be considered at the next meeting, December 16.

A recent quote received for cleaning the GCTA vehicles of $1,060 per month, which would equate to $12,720 per year was submitted by Ruchert. The consensus was it was too expensive. The GCTA advertised for someone to do the cleaning service, with little response. They will contact car wash services in the L-C Valley, such as Splash Car Wash, to arrange for cleaning when the vehicles were in the valley. The board approved up to $600 to be spent for the next month by using services in the valley. The GCTA will continue the search for someone to clean the vehicles.

The next open public meeting of the GCTA will be December 16, 2019, at 1:15 p.m., held in the County Commissioners Board Room at the Garfield County Courthouse.