Pacific Progressive

OCTA Cutting Our Chances of Economic Recovery - Pt 1

OCTA http://www.octa.net/ is making severe, deep cuts to balance a budget.  These cuts are severe and will impact our local economy.  These cuts make it difficult to get to school, work, medical care, government facilities, other transportation, and recreational opportunities.  This will impact our recovery from the current economic crisis.  How can you hold a job you can't get to?  How can you go to college when you can't afford to get to classes?  How do you get to a doctor's appointment if you don't have a car or can't drive?

And, the cuts to service to transit connectors like Park & Rides and Metrolink stations mean no more saving money and energy with public transportation for some people.  If you can't get from the station to where you need to go, why take the train or carpool?

Where are the cuts and who will they hurt? 

• 78 Schools and Colleges have reduced service 
• 27 Shopping Centers, Malls, and Shopping Districts have less transit service
• 14 Hospitals and Medical Facilities have fewer buses available
• 17 Employers and Office Parks have fewer trips to bring employees to work
• 27 Civic Centers, Senior Centers and Libraries have fewer buses to get residents to city  services
• 22 Park & Rides and Transit Connectors have fewer ways to move people to and from the sites
• 13 Parks and Beaches have fewer trips to bring people to recreational opportunities

This is Part 1 of a series. The other stories in the series will examine the impact of the cuts starting June 14 and the proposed September 2009 cuts.

Trip Frequency and Service Reductions Starting June 14, 2009

Brea Ends Regular Trolley Service

The Brea Trolley makes it last stop on Friday, June 26.  The cut is needed to balance the city budget. The trolley ran during weekdays from 11 AM - 2 PM on two routes.  

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the Birch Street Route moved people from the Edwards East theatre on Brea Blvd down  Birch Street to the Brea Mall, Capital Group building, Country Hills, and Beckman Coulter on Ranger Ave.  On Tuesday and Thursday, the trolley ran along Brea Blvd with stops at the Senior Center, Edwards East, Heritage Plaza, Brea Woods, Pepper Tree, Canyon Villas, and the Brea Mall.

These cuts will hit the senior citizens who use the shuttle hard.  Many of these residents either cannot drive or do not own a car.  They will have reduced opportunities to get out of the home easily.  

This is the beginning of the budget cuts.  We will have to wait to see what other services to seniors are cut.

The city is notifying residents via the website, email, notices in water bills.  The city is also working with the Senior Center to let the senior population know the Brea Shuttle is still available to transport them to the Brea Senior Center.

Brea FY 2008/09 Budget in Review

Brea, like all other cities, is working on the FY 2009/10 budget.  Let's take a look at last year's budget as it was passed (before the cuts).

The single largest source of revenue for Brea is Sales & Use Tax (approximately 34% of General Fund Revenue and 18% of Total Revenue).  The next biggest chunk of money is 

Brea Current Year Budget Cuts

Brea has been working on ways to trim both the 2008/09 and 2009/10 budgets.  In March, City Council implemented cuts to the current year budget.  Here's what's been cut for this year.

Department	Annual Savings	Prorated Savings (Based on Effective Date)
City Manager - eliminate Block Party Program, leather-bound binders for City Councilmembers, training for Clerk's staff	$3,050	$2,150
IT - reduce training by 50%	$10,000	$8,000
IT - Eliminate 4 Microsoft Office 2007 classes	$23,100	$3,000
IT - Reduce Network Wiring Services	$10,000	$10,000
Personnel - Reduce training, advertising, travel, meetings, use of recruiters	$38,000	$19,000
Personnel - Share Management Analyst with Development Services	$23,221	$13,430