54.0°,
Mostly Cloudy City increases bus fares and water fees
Amid financial woes, administration says hikes will help during deficit
Long Beach residents will be paying more to ride the bus this month — and will see increases in their water and sewer bills in the fall — as the city contends with its financial woes.
The City Council voted 4-1 on June 19 to increase its rates for water and sewer service, which will cost the average homeowner $72 more per year. City Manager Jack Schnirman said that with the city running a $2.5 million deficit in its water and sewer funds since 2008, the increases were necessary.
“Unfortunately, our water and sewer funds have not been in balance over a period of years,” Schnirman said.
Beginning this month, the city’s water charges will be $4.20 for every 1,000 gallons used, a 21.3 percent increase that is expected to generate $1.2 million. Residents are billed quarterly, and Schnirman said that the increase will not be felt until October. A minimum charge per quarter will be based on 12,000 gallons and a fee of $50.40.
The council also approved a 50-cent bus fare hike by a 3-2 vote. Riders will now pay $2 on the Long Beach route, and $2.50 on the Point Lookout system. The new rates do not apply to senior citizens or students.
Schnirman said that the fares have not changed since 2004, and the increases are expected to help the city break even on a system that generally nets around $76,000. The city receives about $75,000 from Nassau County to run its two routes.
“Our fees are less than Nassau County’s and less than Westchester,” Schnirman said. “This additional revenue, which is assumed in the budget, will go to offset the city’s 10 percent match on all projects and assist with maintaining the city’s buses. In this difficult time, it’s been difficult for the city to reach that, and so an increased fare would be a great assistance in reaching that match.”
City Comptroller Jeff Nogid said that the money would also be used to replace any outdated buses and fare boxes.
City Councilman Mike Fagen called on the administration to do more to find savings instead of increasing fares. “The people who ride the buses … are the people who can least afford it,” Fagen said.
