Local News

April 24th, 2008

California State Budget Crunch, Worsening Economy and Rising Fuel Prices Threaten North County Public Transportation

Major service cuts affecting many passengers are anticipated

North County Transit District Chairman Ed Gallo is concerned about the annual budget and says, “the Governor’s revised budget is due May 15 and public transit agencies across the state can only hold their collective breath. They must not divert any more from transit to the general fund.” Gallo adds, “At a time when NCTD needs to create more transit options for the public, we are forced into reductions of service, thanks in part to the state’s annual diversion of our promised funds.”

North County Transit District (NCTD) is working to solve many issues involving its fiscal year 2009 budget which must be approved by June in order to take effect on July 1, 2008. The month long effort to craft a new operating budget and plan a 5-year capital budget must also be presented to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) Transportation Committee subsequent to NCTD Board of Directors approval. In accordance with state funding sources, the final NCTD operating budget must be balanced and contain no deficit spending.

Due to several converging factors, the budget picture for NCTD as well as the state’s transit industry is getting worse by the day. State economic conditions and projected revenues dedicated to transit funding are dwindling due to declining sales tax revenues. Another source of concern regarding revenues is how much the state government in Sacramento will take from transportation accounts this year to solve their widening budget gap. In past years the state has balanced their budgets by tapping funds originally designated for improving transportation infrastructure and operations. Due to reoccurring budget diversions by the state, NCTD and other transportation agencies have been thrown into annual tail spins when Sacramento finally passes a budget. This creates an environment of uncertainly for NCTD’s 12 million annual passengers, its modes of transit including buses, commuter rail, ADA mandated service, and its new light rail system.

Since 2001, nearly $3 billion has been taken from the public transit account and transferred to the state’s general fund. This funding loss translates to tens of millions in lost revenue for NCTD operating and capital accounts. Last year the state acted to permanently divert 50% of the state’s “spillover” account to non-transit purposes. The “spillover” account was designed to capture excess gasoline taxes collected when gas prices are abnormally high and funnel them to transit agencies to be used to provide better service to the public and cover their higher costs of fuel – the exact situation that exists today. Due to rising fuel prices over the past five years, eleven percent of NCTD’s operating budget is now dedicated to fuel, yet this year half of the “spillover” will be shifted to the state general fund to be used for non-transit purposes. In one year the price of a gallon of fuel for the transit district has risen from $2 to $3.44 a gallon before fuel taxes. Each ten cent increase in fuel costs NCTD $280,000 a year in additional funds.

Public transit can and should be part of the solution for greenhouse gas reduction in California. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), an individual switching to public transit can reduce their yearly carbon emissions by 4,800 pounds. Last year in April, Newsweek magazine featured California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on its cover as a leading “green” proponent ready to push California to take the lead on global warming issues. Yet, funding sources specifically put in place to support public transit in California have been gutted by the environmental governor and the state legislature.

Due to higher operating costs and less certain revenue sources, NCTD is faced with budget cuts in the form of severe service reductions and must also raise fares which will hurt many passengers. All this comes at a time when consumers are feeling the effects of an economic slowdown and are looking for alternatives to driving their automobiles and doing their part to save the planet.

For complete trip planning information via public transit in San Diego County call toll free, 511, or plan your trip on-line at: transit.511sd.com. Complete COASTER, SPRINTER and BREEZE schedules are available on NCTD's website at www.gonctd.com.

Open Houses Scheduled at North County Trade Tech High School

North County Trade Tech High School, a construction-oriented charter school opening Fall 2008, will host seven open houses between April 26 and May 17 for current eighth graders and their parents. Students will have the opportunity to tour Trade Tech’s state-of-the-art construction labs specializing in HVAC, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, architecture, and construction management. In addition, successful mentors from the construction industry and Trade Tech faculty will be on hand to answer questions.

The schedule for the open houses is: Thursdays, April 26, May 8 and 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, May 3 and 17 from 9 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. All will take place at North County Trade Tech High School, 2585 Business Park Drive, Vista, CA. The schedule can also be found at www.tradetechhigh.org. Call 760-598-0782 or e-mail info@tradetechhigh.org to register.

Trade Tech will accept 100 ninth-grade students through a publicly-held lottery in May, growing to 400 students across grades 9 to 12 by 2011. Students will learn through hands-on, project-based instruction while focusing on leadership development, civic engagement, on-the-job training opportunities and internships and community service. Trade Tech graduates can meet all California State University and University of California eligibility requirements while also being prepared for an accelerated apprenticeship in the trade of their choice.

Trade Tech, a non-profit, will be tuition-free. It has received financial support through the Girard Foundation; EdVisions Schools (a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded network), the West Foundation, the California Department of Education; and industry groups including the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) among others.

More information can be found at www.tradetechhigh.org or by calling 760-598-0782.

Captain Book, the Pirate, Invades Hidden Valley Middle School

A rascal showed up at Hidden Valley Middle School recently, a scruffy looking character by the name of Captain Book. He addressed a number of classes last Friday and found the students enthralled as he described the typical life of a pirate in the olden days.

Before he departed, however, this rascal (who in real life goes by the name of Morris Pike) made sure to leave treasure chests behind . . . all of which were filled with books, hence his name. Schools and orgnizations interested in having Captain Hook appear should send him an email care of: mnpike@mac.com

Senior Anglers Hook Up With Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club for Trout Derby

The Senior Anglers of Escondido are again this year hooking up with the Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club of Escondido to help with their 11th annual "Trout Derby" to be held at Dixon Lake on April 26th and 27th from 6 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and closing at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m on Sunday.

The prizes will be awarded at 4pm Sunday. The Anglers will be on hand at the " Kiddie Ponds " and the weight scales to help keep all young anglers from telling too many fish tales!

All the awards and prizes are supplied through the Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club and its sponsors. Fishing permits are required for everyone over the age of eight and California fishing licenses are also required for those over the age of 16.

The Senior Anglers of Escondido are always watching and waiting with the boys and girls that come to fish at the kiddie ponds. It’s worth the wait to see those smiles when they catch their fish!

Escondido Youth a Winner in Derby Car Race

Earlier this year, Escondido resident Spencer Reschly, eight years old, competed in Scout Pack 62's Annual Pine Wood Derby Car Race. His car won over a field of 21 other Pine Wood Derby cars in the Pack.

This gave him the honor of representing Pack 62 at the San Diego Scout Fair held on April 19th, 2008. At the San Diego Scout Fair, Spencer's car finished fourth out of 16 cars in the Kit Carson Division. If his car looks familiar to you, it is because it is modeled after a 1956 Chevy Bel Air.

Spencer Reschly