(The Philadelphia Daily News posted the following editorial on its website on December 20.)
PHILADELPHIA — SEPTA has robbed Peter to pay Paul to resolve this year’s budget deficit, but at least it hasn’t robbed riders by imposing a fare increase.
Merry Christmas.
SEPTA’s budget committee wants to move $36.8 million from the capital budget to the operating budget to shore up a deficit. The action, expected to be approved by its board tomorrow, has bought the agency some time – and the gratitude of beleaguered riders, who now pay a $2 base fare.
As financial decisions go, the move isn’t one of a financially healthy company, though it’s not uncommon for a cash-challenged business to shift money from its capital budget, used for construction, new vehicles, and equipment upgrades, into its operating budget, which pays for more immediate necessities, such as salaries.
It’s like a poor homeowner trying to chose between fixing the leaky roof or buying the family groceries. Now SEPTA’s fingers are crossed that its infrastructure roof won’t cave in.
In opting to put food on the table, SEPTA has made a positive move in signaling that it is putting riders first. And that’s a welcome change from SEPTA’s long history of less-than-smooth customer relations.
Still, the move cannot hide the fact that if the Legislature doesn’t come up with a longer-term solution like dedicated funding, the agency could face a deficit of $120 million to $140 million in the 2008 fiscal year.
General Manager Faye Moore has already raised that warning flag, and noted that previous proposed service and job cuts, and a fare increase to $3, may have to be put back in play in July.
Whether we ever get off this SEPTA financial roller coaster is up to Gov. Rendell and the new Legislature.
Rendell has made this his issue. In 2005, when SEPTA and other state transit agencies again faced financial disaster and legislative inattention, Rendell flexed $412 million in federal dollars to cover the shortfall. Now he has called funding transportation a priority.
A commission led by his transportation secretary released recommendations that called for an additional $1.7 billion annually to improve the state’s highways and transit systems. It says dedicated funding for public transit is needed and shows how it can be done. But will lawmakers listen?
And though SEPTA’s latest move might endear it to the public, it does have a downside: It stalls much- needed modernization and rehab projects. As SEPTA itself noted, “robbing Peter to pay Paul is counterproductive and debilitating.”
So it’s time to go to work. Armed with the governor’s thoroughly researched, bipartisan document, groups such as the Save Transit Coalition – and individual riders – must turn up the heat. Those who complain at SEPTA board meetings must lobby legislators. And Mayor Street should spend time in Harrisburg, pressing the issue.
SEPTA may have dodged a crisis this time, but that doesn’t mean we should wait around for the roof to collapse.