Transit workers protest outside TARTA garage

Shannon Conway, a fix line employee of TARTA, holds a sign during an Amalgamated Transit Union protest and rally outside of the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service headquarters on Knapp Street. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Buy This Photo Published: Thursday, 6/5/2014 - Updated: 12 minutes ago

BY DAVID PATCH BLADE STAFF WRITER

A transit funding system they consider "antiquated" and stalled contract talks for paratransit workers were both subjects for protesters who gathered today outside a Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority garage and administrative office.

"Fix it, fund it, make it fair," was one of two chants for the group of about a dozen people, mainly members of Amalgamated Transit Union 697, in front of the Toledo Area Regional Paratransit Service facility on Knapp Street.

Carly Allen, the union's business agent, said that slogan referred to the transit authority's two property levies, a combined 2.5 mills collected in its seven member communities that provides the bulk of the agency's local non-fare funding.

Mrs. Allen said local leaders need to take another look at switching to sales-tax funding, which would be "more equitable and pay-as-you-go" compared to property taxes, whose revenue has slumped during the past five years as area real-estate values have tumbled.

"It's time. We really need to move in that [sales tax] direction," Mrs. Allen said. "Our working families are paying the price for reactive leadership."

Perrysburg's relatively high share of property taxes was a main reason that city withdrew from the transit authority two years ago, with leaders complaining that their community did not receive service commensurate for the amount it paid in to TARTA. Spencer Township, the transit authority's smallest member, pulled out last year for similar reasons, leaving the agency with seven member communities.

But when the transit authority proposed four years ago to add Lucas County as a member community -- a prerequisite step toward enacting a county-wide sales tax -- Sylvania Township trustees and Maumee city council rejected the idea. State law requires existing members to approve any membership additions.

"The existing member communities do need to get on board," Mrs. Allen said. "I just hate to see one group make our entire region suffer. It [a sales tax] at least needs to go to voters."

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Transit workers protest outside TARTA garage