Comments on: Union Pushes For ECAT Public Transit Gas Tax

By: billy

billy — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 08:20:15 +0000

Another reason why I dont like unions.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 03:25:18 +0000

The county sure are getting creative. Instead of wheeling and dealing and trying to find ways to our money. All that time you could have used for other things of importance.

Our tax money is “Pearls before swine”.

By: Panhandlepix

Panhandlepix — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:15:12 +0000

Let the riders pay for any additional cost on this never-made- money bus system. Maybe these union people need to chip in part of their union wages to support their job.

By: Already taxed too much - demoted to part time

Already taxed too much - demoted to part time — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 02:45:15 +0000

I can NOT afford another tax addition. When I couldn’t afford to drive, I walked or rode a bike. Get used to the hard times, just like the rest of us. BTW, don’t forget to VOTE when the time comes to make your voice heard !!! If you don’t VOTE, you have no right to GRIPE about what happens!

By: S.L.B

S.L.B — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:51:51 +0000

My vote to raising gas taxes is NO-NO-NO! The common sense solution is to increase the required cost for the rider to ride the bus…. period.

http://www.goecat.com/fares/
Base Fare- $1.75
Little children shorter than top of fare box- FREE
Elem. or Middle School students- $1.25
High School or College students- $1.25
Senior or Disabled- .85 cents
Medicare Card Holder- .85 cents

Riders are not having to worry about anything else when going from point A to point B, they just sit there and let everyone else do all the work, including paying for it. They dont worry about paying for maintenance and repair cost, insurance cost, gasoline cost or a car payment? No, all they worry about is the fact that they wan’t to ride for FREE or a very minimal charge. If you don’t want to pay more, then by all means, buy your own vehicle like most everyone else has to do and see if you come out cheaper.

We live in the northend of the County and when my family and I drive to Pensacola and back, it cost us at least $30-$40 to replace the gas we used to get there, not to mention wear and tear on our vehichle….and then there is always the factor of, if something decides to go wrong with our vehichle, we have to pay to fix it or we don’t drive. What if we hit a deer, then their is the cost of paying our deductible in order to make repairs. None of those expences or FREE or a very minimal charge to us.

By: Taxed

Taxed — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:20:46 +0000

RE: Michael A. Lowery on April 25th, 2012 8:02 am
*A special grant paid for the bus stops obtained by the County.

I’m glad the county used a “special grant” to pay for the bus stops instead of taxpayer money! … Oh wait, the government only has money that they take from… uh, nevermind.

By: Michael A. Lowery

Michael A. Lowery — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:02:21 +0000

By the way – to correct the record on some comments:

*ECAT is no longer managed by a French Company (Veolia) – we have a new Management team – First Transit / First Group

*A special grant paid for the bus stops obtained by the County.

*For the comment that ECAT buses are empty – not true – I’d be happy to give anyone a tour and ride on the system. You might see at some point on the route only 3 or 4 people on that particular bus – but for example the route on Hwy 29 going toward Century – it is average load going north and heavy coming south. Then at another time of the down it is the opposite.

Food for Thought. By the way – that post calling me an idiot – sorry you feel that way about me. May God Bless you.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:26:49 +0000

The best way to hurt a recovering economy is to raise taxes!!! How about some salary cuts for the County Commissioners and the Union bosses?

By: Sam690

Sam690 — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:33:18 +0000

Totally outrageous!

ECAT should be self sufficient.

Unions should never be involved in any county operations.

Any county commissioner who considers any tax increase, for any reason, should be voted out of office.

We are overtaxed now. Taxes need to be decreased.

BY THE WAY… WHO PAID FOR ALL OF THOSE BRIGHT GREEN, BRAND NEW BUS STOP BENCHES??? AND… ALL THE VERY EXPENSIVE CONCREATE STANDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM. WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE OLD BENCHES. ALSO, WHY IS IT THAT MORE THAN 95% OF THEM ARE EMPTY, TOTALLY UNUSED, WHENEVER YOU DRIVE BY, NO MATER WHAT TIME OF DAY IT IS? WHAT WAS THE COST AND WHO APPROVED IT?

Get government cost under control, AND DO IT NOW!

By: Sandra

Sandra — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:42:14 +0000

ECAT is presently being managed by a private (French) company. If they cannot make it proffitable or at least self supporting then they should be fired and another, better managed company should be given a chance. The union should be decertified also as they are out of touch with the taxpaying citizens of this county. All we hear from them is “give me a raise” and” management is mistreating us”.