Local transportation officials have defied the point of the historic federal stimulus and are squandering part of San Benito County’s opportunity to kick-start the economy by spending $374,000 on two replacement buses to run existing transit routes.
The Council of San Benito County Governments has received word the area would get $1.2 million in the first of two installments from the $787 billion federal stimulus package intended to boost the dismal economy. An amount for the second installment is unknown.
Most of the money will go toward shovel-ready road projects fitting in line with the stimulus’ intention, to create jobs or save existing ones. But COG leaders also slipped in the $374,000 for two cutaway buses and later justified the allocation, when asked by a reporter how it will stimulate the economy, by noting that the vehicles provide transportation for citizens to school and work.
That’s not the point and it’s nowhere near it.
Their decision comes on the heels of federal leaders such as President Obama expressing the absolute necessity for responsible spending by local officials as the money trickles down from the legislation.
This is exactly why the president and others made that stern demand, and this local example shows why the legislation – despite regulatory efforts – carries an inherent, serious potential for waste and ultimate failure.
Contrary to COG Executive Director Lisa Rheinheimer’s flawed explanation that without the buses, some citizens cannot get to work or school, the $374,000 in spending that amounts to 31 percent of the county’s stimulus installment does nothing to create jobs.
Before buying the buses, transportation officials and COG board members should have considered whether the transit system can afford to cut more inefficient routes or pursue other cost-slashing measures before guaranteeing a set of expensive fixed costs through the life of those new vehicles. COG recently dropped midday service for many routes, but is there room for more?
That could actually save county taxpayers some additional dollars – which they, in turn, could inject into the local economy.
It is not as if the money will just disappear if officials use it elsewhere. There are many more road needs in this community than those slated for completion with the stimulus funds. There are areas throughout the city and county limits that desperately need repair. Just west of downtown is a prime example. Many of those streets are atrocious and years beyond needing improvements.
That’s where the money should go. We hope local leaders can see their decision lacks logic and veers sharply from the sense of national cooperation needed for a recovery. We encourage them to reconsider and use the funds elsewhere.
