The recent economic downturn is having far-reaching implications for the City, the State of Ohio, and Cuyahoga County, as well as RTA.

A significant reduction in Sales Tax revenue, cuts in State Transit Funding and employment-related loss of ridership and fare revenue require that RTA examine all available options to fulfill our mission "to provide the maximum amount of high quality service to our customers, with the revenue we receive".

The purpose of this web page is to keep RTA customers, employees and the public in general informed of financial challenges and the ways that the GCRTA is attempting to meet those challenges.

This information will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any questions that you would like us to respond to, or have any suggestions or comments that you would like to share with us, please contact us at public-comment@gcrta.org.

What are the causes for RTA's current budget challenges?

The reason for RTA's budget challenge is a significant drop in revenues.

RTA's revenues come from three primary sources:

1. Sales Tax
2. Government Subsidies and Grants
3. Passenger Fares

1. Sales Tax
   • RTA gets a 1% Sales Tax on goods sold in Cuyahoga County.
   • This is RTA's largest source of revenue, representing between 60% and 70% of RTA's operating budget.
   • Sales Tax is directly impacted by the local economy. Between 1990 and 2001, when the economy was stronger than it is today, the annual increase in the sales tax averaged approximately 5.6%. This was RTA's expansion period when the Waterfront Line was built, and when the Community Circulator and suburban Park-N-Ride Services were started.
   • Since 2001, the local economy has weakened. Between 2001 and 2008, the annual increase in the sales tax averaged only approximately 1%.
   • In 2009, unemployment, the tightening of the credit market, and the falling of consumer confidence caused by the national recession, have significantly impacted receipts from the Sales Tax.
     • For the 12 months of 2009, Sales Tax receipts to RTA were $18,982,598 (or 11%) less than the amount received in 2008.
   • If, beginning in 2010, sales tax receipts increase at a rate of 2%, which is twice the annual rate experienced between 2001 and 2008, it will take 6 years (until 2015) for the Sales Tax to once again reach the level collected in 2008.
   • If, beginning in 2010, sales tax receipts increase at a rate of 1%, which is the approximate annual rate experienced between 2001 and 2008, it will take 12 years (until 2021) for the Sales Tax to once again reach the level collected in 2008.
   • RTA's projection for 2010 sales tax is a 1.2% increase over 2009 levels. This projected increase is the same as is being projected by Cuyahoga County.
   • Through August 2010, revenues from the Sales Tax are at a level of 1.66% above 2010 budgeted levels.
   
   
   
2. Government Subsidies and Grants
   
   Federal Government - In the early years of this program, the Federal Government provided Capital Grants to assist in the purchasing of capital goods, such as buses, trains, train stations, transit centers, etc., and Operating Assistance to assist with expenses associated with operator and mechanic labor, health and retirement benefits, and for fuel and utilities.
   
   A change in the Federal Program in 1993 eliminated Operating Assistance to transit agencies. Because this change was so significant, it was phased in between 1993 and 1998.
   
   The Capital Grant portion of the Federal Program continues and provides funds by a formula to each qualifying transit system in the nation, based upon factors such as population and population density. For qualifying purchases, these grants can typically be used to pay for up to 80% of the cost of the Capital good.
   
   Over the years, the definition of Capital has been expanded and now includes labor costs expended to maintain capital goods purchased under the program.
   
   Although declines in population experienced in the Greater Cleveland area have impacted the relative amount of Federal funds allocated to RTA, by and large, this program has kept pace with inflation.
   
   A Bill was introduced in the Senate (Senate Bill #3412) on May 25, 2010 titled the Public Transportation Preservation Act of 2010. If signed into law, this legislation will provide $2 Billion of one-time emergency operating funds to public transit. This Bill would be of great benefit to RTA and all other transit systems across the nation. The stated purpose of this proposed legislation is to avoid further cuts in transit service, and if possible, to restore some services that were previously cut. To send emails in support of this Bill, please go to http://www.fundohiotransitnow.org/.
   
   State of Ohio Funding - The State of Ohio has never been an aggressive partner in funding public transportation when compared to other states. The typical State in the United States provides approximately 23% of the operating costs of its transit systems. For comparison, Ohio provides less than 3%.
   
   The State of Ohio invests 99.23% of its resources on highways, but only 0.77% of the total transportation spending on public transit, putting it 40th out of the 50 states in the nation. All the states in the nation that spend less on transit than Ohio are more rural states, with an average population of only 20% of the population of Ohio.
   
   In 2002, Ohio provided $43 million to the transit systems in Ohio. By 2007, that number dropped 63% to $16.3 million. If that wasn't bad enough, in the 2010/2011 State of Ohio budget just approved, funding was cut another 33% to $10.6 million.
   
   This represents a 75% cut in State of Ohio funding since 2002.
   
   
3. Passenger Fares
   
   Passenger fares cover approximately 20 - 25% of the operating cost of RTA's service. Over the past few years, RTA has increased fares several times in attempts to achieve a balanced budget, and preserve needed services for our customers.
   
   Passenger fares were increased again on September 1, 2009 to a base fare of $2.25. Each 25¢ increase represents approximately $4.5 million annually in revenue to RTA. If fares were not increased, more needed service would need to be eliminated.
   
   With the current recession, and the resulting drop in ridership that RTA is experiencing since April 2009, which is a direct result of rising unemployment, pending final accounting, we are now projecting that passenger fares were approximately $5 million under budget by 2009 year's end.
   
   It is important to note that although the one way cash fare is $2.25, the average per ride fare collected by RTA is approximately $1.00, due to discounts provided to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and to customers purchasing and using multi-ride passes such as the all-day pass and the monthly pass.
   
   With the continuing high unemployment rate, passenger fares for the first quarter of 2010 were -2.5%, or $280,000 below budget. RTA is projecting that this revenue source will be approximately $2.9 million below budget by year end.

1. RTA Has Reduced Expenses
   • RTA began last year taking aggressive steps to reduce expenses. At the end of 2008, RTA eliminated 5% of all salaried positions, and informed the salaried staff that there will be a wage freeze for 2009.
   • Restrictions were put on overtime and travel, and a hiring freeze was imposed on all non-critical positions, saving millions of dollars over the previous year.
   • After getting the Ohio Law changed to allow it, RTA began to purchase fuel through the futures market at significant savings. As a result, it is anticipated that our cost of fuel for 2010 will be $8 million less than it was in 2009. We currently have all our fuel purchased for 2010 and have 86% of our needed fuel purchased for 2011, at very favorable prices.
   • With the impact of the recession being worse than anticipated, RTA went one step further in May than the wage freeze for the salaried staff, by reducing salaries of the non-union salaried staff by a minimum of 3% effective June 1, 2009.
   • In July, RTA announced an additional elimination of staff positions by 3%, to be implemented by the end of 2009.
   • RTA even deferred the issuance of the last paycheck of 2009 until January 1, 2010, for non-union salaried staff, to assist in balancing the 2009 budget.
   • RTA furloughed over 100 support employees, on a voluntary basis, to reduce payroll costs during the period from December 21 through December 31, 2009.
   • RTA is currently working closely with its two unions on strategies to reduce costs, retain positions and minimize service cuts. Our contract with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) expired on July 31, 2009, and both sides are actively negotiating. RTA's contract with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) expired on February 28, 2010.
   • In the end, with no new revenues forthcoming and no cost cutting strategies agreed to by our unions, the only way for RTA to realistically balance its budget for 2010 was to implement the April 4, 2010 service cuts.
   
   
   
2. Identified New Funding Sources
   • RTA worked aggressively to identify supplemental funding to help balance the 2009 budget, and with some success:
     • RTA was able to get funding to pay for the operating costs of the Downtown Trolleys for 2009 in the amount of $783,000. This funding may also be available for 2010 and 2011.
     • RTA was able to use a portion of its ARRA Stimulus funds to assist the operating budget. The amount RTA can use for this purpose is $3.456 million for 2009. These are one-time funds and will not be available in 2010 or beyond.
     • RTA was able to secure $3 million of CMAQ funds to help offset the operating costs associated with the HealthLine. RTA is trying to secure up to $6 million for this purpose in 2010.
     • RTA is actively working with ODOT and NOACA on other possible funding sources to help balance the 2010 budget.

• Effective September 1, 2009, an increase of 25¢ in the base fare was imposed, generating an additional $1.5 million in revenue by 2009 year end.
• Effective September 20, 2009, all 12 Community Circulator routes were eliminated, and service was also cut on 15 big bus routes. These service cuts saved approximately $1.6 million by 2009 year end.

• In 2000, RTA had 3,086 employees
• As of June 30, 2009, RTA had 2,475 employees
• At 2009 year's end, RTA had approximately 2,375 employees.
• At the end of the first quarter of 2010, 2,293 positions were filled.

• Population is a major factor in the development of Federal funding formulas.
• If there are less people, there are less people for RTA to serve.
• If there are less people, there are less people to support RTA with their contribution to the countywide Sales Tax.

• November 9, 2009 - The staff presented their proposed 2010 budget at Board of Trustees Finance Committee Meetings.
• November 17, 2009 - RTA proposed Service Plan for 2010 was presented to a joint Finance and Operations Committee meeting.
• December 1, 2009 - RTA proposed capital Improvement Plan for 2010 was presented to a joint Finance and Planning and Development Committee meeting. Also, a Public Hearing on the budget was held at the RTA Offices.
• December 15, 2009 - A second Public Hearing on the budget was held at the RTA Offices
• On December 15, 2009, The Board of Trustees rejected the staff recommendation to approve a 2010 budget due to future uncertainties. These uncertainties are the worsening of the economy, outstanding labor issues, and the future input from the public at the scheduled public hearings in early January. As an alternative, the Board of Trustees passed a short-term temporary budget allowing RTA to operate through March 31, 2010.
• The RTA Board of Trustees held a public meeting on the 2010 budget and approved the budget for the last 9 months of 2010, and voted to maintain the current $2.25 base fare structure, at the February 16 meeting. This adopted budget, with reduced revenues, does necessitate service cuts be implemented in April 2010.

1. Sunday/Holiday Service - which would reduced expenses by approximately $5 million annually, and reduce staffing by 66 positions.
2. Saturday Service - which would reduce expenses by approximately $7 million annually, and reduce staffing by 93 positions.
3. Elimination of Saturday and Sunday/Holiday Service - which would reduce expenses by approximately $12 million annually, and reduce staffing by 159 positions.
4. Low ridership routes.
5. Routes that may be in close proximity to other RTA routes.

• The staff worked diligently on integrating information learned at the Public Hearings and received via mail and email into a final service plan proposal.
• The service changes were implemented on April 4, 2010.
• A comprehensive list of the implemented changes can be found here.

• The staff is continuing to explore strategies with its two unions in the hope to develop ways to reduce the cost of service delivery so that existing services can be retained.
• The staff is working with elected officials on strategies to increase transit funding.
• The staff has prepared a comprehensive plan to temporarily close one of its three Big Bus Districts in late 2010 or early 2011, which can save significant costs by reducing overhead expenses
  • This plan identified that the following annual cost savings by temporarily closing one of the three existing bus districts:
    • Closing Harvard District - Savings of approximately $4 million
    • Closing Triskett District - Savings of approximately $3 million
    • Closing Hayden District - Savings of approximately $1 million
• Plans are moving ahead at this time to temporarily close the Harvard District in late August of 2010. This move will save significant money, and not impact any transit service to the public.

I am writing to update all employees on the status of the RTA 2010 budget, which I know is of much interest to you, our customers, and which will certainly attract much media attention over the next several weeks.

Based upon 3rd quarter 2009 results, it is now anticipated that RTA will end 2009 with a positive balance of approximately $879,000. Although far less than our goal of an ending balance equivalent to one month's operating expenses, which would be approximately $20 million, it certainly represents an improvement over previous projections.

This projected positive balance was only achieved through:

• An 8% reduction of salaried staff positions
• A 3% reduction of salaries for non-union employees
• An additional 25-cent fare increase implemented on September 1, and
• A 6% service cut, which included the elimination of the Community Circulators on September 20, 2009, eliminating 85 positions at RTA.

Unfortunately, there is still a chance that certain grants will not be approved in a timely manner, which will result in a negative balance. We are working diligently with the FTA to avoid this situation.

As previously communicated, the national recession has caused RTA's largest source of revenues, Cuyahoga County sales tax, to generate a projected $18.5 million less in 2009 than 2008 levels. Furthermore, the State of Ohio reduced its funding for public transportation by 33% in the recently approved budget for 2010 and 2011. This situation is certainly not unique to RTA but one that is common to 9 out of 10 transit systems in the nation.

Detailed information about this budget crisis can be found on our website: RideRTA.com, by going to the "Budget Challenges" link that can be found on the main page. This document also includes a 6-Step Plan to preserve transit service and transit jobs in 2010, which we are following, to try to address this crisis.

As a result of these financial challenges, the only way RTA can develop a balanced budget for 2010, will be through a combination of:

• Cost savings strategies
• New revenues from the State of Ohio
• Increases in fares, and
• Additional service reductions and layoffs.

The budget proposal presented on November 9, 2009, to the RTA Board of Trustees contains the following assumptions in order to achieve a balanced budget:

• A reduction in bus and train service, equal to an annual 12% cut, which will eliminate 150 to 200 RTA positions.
• The continuation of fares at the current level of $2.25 base fare, which represents a 50-cent increase to our customers over the base of $1.75, implemented as a two step fuel surcharge in August 2008.

The reduction of 12% of our service will be the same as eliminating one out of every 8 current trips. If fares fall back to the $1.75 base fare level, it would necessitate an approximate 21% service reduction, which would be the same as eliminating one out of every 5 current trips.

The 2010 budget process will continue on November 17, December 1, and on December 15, 2009, with public input encouraged at the December 1 and December 15 meetings. It is anticipated that the RTA Board of Trustees will discuss and approve a budget on December 15, 2009.

The specifics of the staff proposal for major changes to bus and train service, as well as any change to fares, will be discussed at several Public Hearings anticipated to be held in January 2010. Following the Public Hearings, final decisions will be made, and changes implemented on April 4, 2010.

Let me assure you that RTA has and continues to take advantage of all possible government subsidies to preserve service. We were, for example, able to use approximately $6 million of the Federal ARRA Stimulus Funding to assist our budget in 2009. However, this one-time money will not be available in 2010. The balance of the Stimulus funding cannot, by law, be used to add or preserve jobs but only for major capital projects. Already included in the 2010 budget, is the anticipated use of an approximate $8 million grant awarded by NOACA.

I again solicit your input into this process, and encourage you to share the importance of adequate funding for public transit with your customers and with elected officials who make decisions on the amount of funds they approve for public transportation. While the typical state in the nation invests 23% of the cost of public transit in their state, Ohio provides less than 3%.

Please be assured that we will take great efforts to minimize the reduction of service and to preserve as many positions as possible.

We will also strive to keep you informed of our progress. Any suggestions or ideas that you may have to save jobs at RTA can be communicated to us at gm@gcrta.org.

• December 2008: RTA reduced salaried positions by 5% (complete)
• September 2009: Layoff of 53 bargaining unit employees (85 total positions) as a result of elimination of Community Circulator service (complete)
• November 2009: RTA reduced salaried positions by an additional 3% (complete)

• January 2009: Salaries of RTA's salaried staff were frozen (complete)
• June 2009: Salaries of RTA's salaried staff were reduced by 3% (complete)
• Deferral of last pay in 2009 to early 2010 for salaried staff (in process)
• RTA has proposed to achieve significant labor cost reductions through collective bargaining with unions representing its bargaining unit employees (pending)

• RTA has proposed to achieve health care cost savings through collective bargaining with unions representing its bargaining unit employees (pending)

• RTA has proposed to cost savings through collective bargaining with unions representing its bargaining unit employees (pending)