Date: Wed, 1 Apr 2009 12:19:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: tim keim
Subject: Scuttled Bus
SCUTTLED BUS
3-25-09
By Tim Keim
Previously published in the Chapel Hill Herald Sun
It’s been a couple o’ weeks since the Pittsboro Town Board met to consider its participation in bus service in cooperation with Chapel Hill Transit, Chatham County and the federal government. I’ve had time to mull over the statements and consult the meeting minutes provided to me by Town Clerk, Alice Lloyd. I was present at the meeting.
When I first heard the arguments of Commissioners Chris Walker and Gene Brooks against the bus proposal, I thought they had some merit.
Gene Brooks thought that Chatham County’s offer to cover two-thirds of the cost was generous. He waxed nostalgic like the history teacher he once was, remembering when a man could ride a train to work and back from Sanford to Raleigh. He said if the country fell that it would be replete with tales of our neglected rail system. When Gene Brooks starts to praise something, don’t get your hopes up. Brooks then implored the board to hold on to their reserves as the previous generation had counseled him. He continued, noting that our water treatment and wastewater treatment plants may soon need extensive renovation or replacement, therefore he could not support any expenditure on the bus.
He makes a valid point about our water infrastructure. It is old, out of date, and often out of safety and health compliance. But, despite his reservations Brooks supported the not very good, relatively cheap chloramine treatment option for the town’s notoriously bad drinking water. Instead of pushing for a really good system that would protect citizens from the carcinogens in our water, Brooks voted to do it on the cheap. Even after he heard expert opinion from Dr. Phillip Singer of UNC Chapel Hill that strongly doubted the effectiveness of chloramine use in our situation. Now Mr. Brooks wants to warn us about money we may have to spend on our water system that could have been addressed comprehensively before now. How curious and ironic it was, then, to hear Mr. Brooks paraphrase Singer’s advise as he cautioned about the possibility of needing to spend money on our water system.
Mr. Walker on the other hand is a banker. He foretold of a possible budget shortfall that would jeopardize the town’s financial standing. He peppered Finance Officer, Scott Borror, asking him to speculate about the possibility of a budget shortfall. Mr. Borror conceded tepidly that “yes, it was possible.” The sense of his answer though was that it didn’t seem probable. To summarize Mr. Walker’s argument: To support the bus (even though the town has millions of dollars in reserve) would be imprudent in such uncertain economic times. Furthermore, he said that he couldn’t live with himself if a single employee had to be laid off because money committed to the bus could have, otherwise used, saved that job.
I mustn’t leave out Commissioner Clinton Bryan. His lack of knowledge and curiosity about the project was troubling. In a phone call to him just days before the vote, it was plainly evident he hadn’t done his homework. And, since he’s a car dealer, he may well have a philosophical bias against mass transit, but he wasn’t ethically prompted to recuse himself from the vote.
Mr. Brooks and Mr. Walker were both very sincere as they made their arguments; paragons of wisdom and restraint. But it’s difficult for me to reconcile their extreme caution with Pittsboro’s financial fitness. Judge for yourself.
According to the North Carolina Treasurer’s Office, Pittsboro has about 700 days of operating capital in the bank, thanks in part to the admirable frugality of Commissioners Brooks and Walker.
If Pittsboro paid one-third of the remaining $176,356 to help fund the 18 month bus pilot project, the most it could cost would be $58,197.48, or $3,233.19 per month. That’s if no one rode the bus at all. The potential cost is such a minuscule proportion of Pittsboro’s Fund Balance that it wouldn’t pose a risk to our ability to meet our needs.
Mayor Voller made exhaustive arguments documenting how this bus service would benefit Pittsboro and Chatham County. Town Manager, Bill Terry, doubted that Pittsboro would ever get an opportunity like this again. Commendations to Commissioners Pam Baldwin and Hugh Harrington for having the foresight to support the bus.
I must concur with Mr. Terry. Chapel Hill Transit will supply the buses, the feds will cover half the total cost. Chatham will cover approximately two-thirds of the balance. The internal combustion engine might be nothing more than a museum piece before an opportunity like this rolls ’round again.
But all may not be lost. Mayor Voller was able to get unanimous agreement, in principal, for the bus route if 2009 budget negotiations in July provided a favorable forecast. Commissioner Walker stipulated that no new taxes should be levied, no layoffs should occur, and that fewer than $120,000 would have to be transferred from the reserves to the general fund to cover any budget shortfall.
Let’s all be watching this summer to see if that agreement is honored.
In the meantime, please contact the PBO town board and ask them to support mass transit for the prosperity our citizens.