Friday, June 03, 2005
Is Burns' Divining Rod Better Than Cipola's?
MercuryNews.com | 06/02/2005 | VTA approves new chief, projects budget surplus: "Burns probably will be measured on two fronts -- his ability to deliver BART and lure back bus riders, who have sagged from around 150,000 to 105,000 a day, the lowest in more than two decades.
But the local sales tax, which makes up 80 percent of the agency's operating fund, is beginning to inch upward, from $132 million in 2003 to a projected $181 million in 2010."
Remember the tailgate meetings Cipola led just before the first layoffs, the ones where he was taken to task for continuing to hire new drivers long after most big companies in the area began laying off workers? His response then was that there was no way he could have known what was coming. He continued operating VTA as if ever increasing sales tax funds would continue to flow his way.
The current players now are predicting a $50 million increase by 2010. Have they learned anything from the error of their ways? I don't want to cast a long shadow over the jubilent celebration the board is having over hiring Muni's Big Boss, but can we really afford to operate as if we know what the future holds? I certainly hope their predictions come true, but please--don't act as though the future economic health of VTA is a positive certainty.
But the local sales tax, which makes up 80 percent of the agency's operating fund, is beginning to inch upward, from $132 million in 2003 to a projected $181 million in 2010."
Remember the tailgate meetings Cipola led just before the first layoffs, the ones where he was taken to task for continuing to hire new drivers long after most big companies in the area began laying off workers? His response then was that there was no way he could have known what was coming. He continued operating VTA as if ever increasing sales tax funds would continue to flow his way.
The current players now are predicting a $50 million increase by 2010. Have they learned anything from the error of their ways? I don't want to cast a long shadow over the jubilent celebration the board is having over hiring Muni's Big Boss, but can we really afford to operate as if we know what the future holds? I certainly hope their predictions come true, but please--don't act as though the future economic health of VTA is a positive certainty.
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