HomeMy WebLinkAbout25. 12-61
FEBRUARY 14, 2012 12-61 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED__7-0____ LOST_______ LAID OVER_______ WITHDRAWN_______)
PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE MOBILITY ACT (SB 436),
WHICH WOULD RESTORE STATE TRANSIT OPERATING
ASSISTANCE TO PREVIOUS LEVELS
INITIATED BY: COUNCILOR POESCHL
WHEREAS, the City of Oshkosh operates a mass transportation system (the
Oshkosh Transit System) which provides reliable, affordable and accessible public
transportation options to support our community’s mobility needs, and
WHEREAS, the Oshkosh Transit System is able to provide its high level of service
through a combination of passenger fares and Federal, state and local funds, and
WHEREAS, the 2011-13 budget for the State of Wisconsin reduced by ten percent
the amount of state operating assistance provided to mass transit agencies across the
state, including the Oshkosh Transit System, and
WHEREAS, restoration of this funding would help the Oshkosh Transit System to
protect existing service levels in 2012, and reduce the need for service cuts in 2013, when
Federal operating assistance will likely decrease, and
WHEREAS, state legislators have introduced legislation entitled “The Workforce
Mobility Act” (SB 436) which would restore these cuts in state operating assistance, using
funding currently available in the state’s transportation fund;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the Common Council of the City of
Oshkosh
1) That the Common Council supports the Workforce Mobility Act.
2) That the Common Council urges its legislative representatives to support the
Workforce Mobility Act.
3) The City Manager is hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to
local legislators and other legislators who are considering this bill.
01-<OfH
City of Oshkosh - Transportation Department ON THE WATER
926 Dempsey Trail, Oshkosh, WI 54902 (920) 232-5342 (920) 232-5343 fax
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Christopher Strong, P.E., Director of Transportation
DATE: February 9, 2012
RE: RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE MOBILITY ACT (SB 436)
Background
This resolution, requested by Councilor Poeschl, supports a piece of legislation submitted to the
Wisconsin State Senate by Senator Jessica King and 11 other senators; with 26 co-sponsors from
the Wisconsin State Assembly, including Representative Gordon Hintz. As drafted, the
legislation would alter the state's 2011-13 budget to increase the amount of state transit operating
assistance provided to transit systems across the state. The approved budget reduced state
operating assistance by 10 percent from previous funding levels; the legislation, if passed, would
restore state operating assistance to previous levels. The funding adjustment would be paid for by
funds which currently exist in the state's transportation fund.
Analysis
If passed, the resolution would communicate to state legislators that the City of Oshkosh supports
restoring state operating assistance to previous levels.
If the bill is passed, this would lead to increased funding for Oshkosh Transit System operations
in 2012. Staff estimates that the reduction in state operating assistance was equivalent to about 3
percent of the Transit Division's budget. With the 2012 budget at $4,454,700, restoring the state
operating assistance to previous levels could mean an additional $130,000 to $140,000 for the
system this year.
The 2012 transit budget adopted by the Common Council preserved fixed route service without
an across-the-board fare increase, while absorbing the 10 percent reduction in state operating
assistance. To do so, the budget made a number of critical assumptions about future costs in
personnel, contractual services and fuel; if these assumptions prove wrong, it may be necessary
to consider service reductions later this year. Other transit systems in the state have already seen
significant contractions in service and/or fare increases on their bus routes due to the reductions
in state operating assistance.
The impact of reduced operating assistance is even more significant for 2013. That is the year
City of Oshkosh—Department of Transportation 1
Resolution to Support Workforce Mobility Act(SB 436)
when 2010 Census data regarding population is expected to be used in Federal funding formulas.
Because the Appleton and Green Bay service areas each exceed 200,000 in population, those
transit systems will no longer be eligible for Federal operating assistance. Because of the
formulas by which the state distributes Federal transit operating assistance, this will likely mean
a reduction in Federal operating assistance to other systems in the state, including Oshkosh.
Without a restoration of state operating assistance to previous levels and/or changes in Federal
legislation, it becomes even more likely that service cuts will be necessary.
The bill was submitted based on an analysis from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau which showed
that the transportation fund currently has over $30 million, as shown in the attached memo.
According to Sen. King's office, the restored funding is approximately $9.6 million.
The text of the bill is available at https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2011/related/proposals/sb436.
Fiscal Impact
Approving the resolution has no direct fiscal impact to the City.
Recommendation
As current state operating assistance levels jeopardize the City's ability to maintain its current
level of transit service in the community, I recommend the Common Council approve this
resolution.
Respectfully submitted, Approved:
72
h74 //i Strong, P.E. Mark A. Rohloff
Director of Transportation City Manager
City of Oshkosh—Department of Transportation 2