Long, long article yapping about ridership (revenue) problems for Milwaukee County Transit system.
Notice something missing?
Yup. Nowhere in the article will you find the word "costs."
But TMJ4 found "costs" in 2009:
Right now, the average MCTS operator makes a little more than $21/hr and takes home around $50,000/yr. However, our investigation found a struggling system where many drivers make a whole lot more than that. . "Now that is news to me," exclaimed rider Teresa Butler when the I-Team showed her some of the numbers. "I had no idea, but I should of just went on ahead and started driving a bus." In 2006, 113 drivers earned more than $70,000, 45 took home more than $80,000, 10 made at least $90,000, while four drivers were in the six figures. The top earner made nearly $106,000. That's $37,000 more than the Milwaukee County Executive, and only $15,000 less than the Sheriff. "The pay that they receive and the hours they put in to receive that pay is well deserving," said Riley. Still, the numbers for 2007 were even higher: 136 drivers earned at least $70,000, 54 made at least $80,000, 18 operators made more than $90,000, and the number of six-figure operators doubled to eight. The same driver topped the 2007 list, earning more than $117,000.
And those numbers do NOT count benefits, folks.
Compare to BadgerBus wages of about $12.00-$15.00/hour, or semi-drivers' annual $50-$65K earnings.
Granted, BadgerBus and semi drivers are not in combat zones; but the vast majority of MCTS drivers do not have those problems, either.
There's a way to fix the deficit, people.
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11 comments:
Those numbers are insane. But let me guess.... The MKE Board extended their contracts before Act 10?
Nope (!!!)
MCTS is a private company. Not affected by Act 10.
You won't "fix" the deficit by cutting driver salaries, just as you won't "fix" it by raising taxes on high end earners.
You may be right, Anony.
Best move: privatize.
Great, privatize public transportation. The increased likelihood of the loss of public control; reduced pay/benefits/civil service protections; and higher prices or user fees. And increased oversight by the county to ensure that the terms of the contract is honored consistently, especially when it comes to appropriate methods of service provision in lower density parts or higher crime rate areas of the city.
No thanks!
The drivers earn everything they get considering MTS has a number of vacancies for (experienced) drivers. Supply and demand. Even Walker when he was County Exec had no clue about this "excess in overtime" considering that the system met its budget and always got high marks for efficiency from the State.
Hmmm. I'm getting tired of the highways. Maybe MCTS could be an option. I wonder if I'd qualify...
:-)
The increased likelihood of the loss of public control; reduced pay/benefits/civil service protections; and higher prices or user fees.
Prophet, eh?
Walker when he was County Exec had no clue about this "excess in overtime" considering that the system met its budget and always got high marks for efficiency from the State.
Did you read his mind, or did he tell you that personally?
MTS has a number of vacancies for (experienced) drivers.
Any idiot can write a job description which eliminates 95% of the applicants, even if 30% of those eliminated CAN do the job.
Dad29--Prophet, eh?
There are occasions where privatization has cost taxpayers!
www.tampabay.com/opinion/editorials/article1186901.ece
advanceindiana.blogspot.com/2010/09/failed-welfare-privatization-deal-cost.html
Dad29--"Did you read his mind, or did he tell you that personally?"
It was in the link you cited! As you say so eloquently, read for meaning!
"The I-Team asked Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker if he had any idea about the transit system's overtime use. "Not in terms of the overtime to that excess, no," Walker admitted."
There are occasions where privatization has cost taxpayers!
No kidding? Really?
YOU are the one who predicted all those troubles for MCTS. That's YOUR prediction. Saying that "It rained in Spain" is not the same as saying "It WILL rain in Milwaukee."
And Walker didn't know. Tsk. Not really relevant to the question, is it?
Privatize.
"And Walker didn't know. Tsk. Not really relevant to the question, is it?"
Oh, no, Dad29, YOU made it relevant when you tried to bust my chops. It is GERMANE because if he was so concerned about helping taxpayers, he would have been on top of that matter and made an effort to rectify the situation.
So, again, why isn't Walker also going after the benefits of police and fire departments? Do they not constitute a strain on budgets due to their excessive overtime pay and ability to retire relatively young?
"YOU are the one who predicted all those troubles for MCTS."
I am merely pointing out that privatizing, while having its merits, also has its pitfalls. And there would be a number of people besides myself who would be wary of going that route.
YOU are the one trying to be a soothsayer in that privatization would be the panacea.
Prophet? Me? No, that is reserved to St. Revolution, our resident alpha male genius!
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