Long Beach Transit says state budget may force cuts in service

Long Beach Press Telegram

January 11, 2010

By Paul Eakins

LONG BEACH - Long Beach Transit may be forced to cut back on its service if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget plan, which he announced last week, is implemented.

Transit could lose between $5 million and $7 million from cuts to Proposition 42 transportation funding, the sales tax on diesel, spillover funds, and a portion of the sales tax on gasoline, said Transit spokeswoman Marcelle Epley. The loss could account for 10 percent of Transit's operating budget, she said.

"There are no cuts planned at this time, but the company is looking at the level of service and if it can be sustained with these budget cuts," Epley said.

Schwarzenegger proposed making cuts to health and human services, welfare, transportation and environmental programs to plug a $20 billion deficit. He also seeks to raise money by rolling back recent corporate tax breaks, expanding oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast and calling on the federal government for more assistance.

Epley said that after last year's state budget cuts, Transit was forced to implement a hiring freeze, stop salary increases and raise fares, which will go up again Feb. 14.

Long Beach Transit serves Long Beach, Lakewood and Signal Hill. It operates 38 bus routes, the free downtown Passport, the AquaLink and AquaBus harbor transports, and the Dial-A-Lift service for mobility-impaired users.