City budget to involve hikes
The city budget is managing a general increase of 5% in everything, including transit fare hikes and increases in property taxes. A standard monthly bus pass costs $70 now and will likely cost more than $72 next year. (The Gazette notes that the pass was $48.50 back in 2002 when the first Tremblay administration came in.)
Later note: the specifics are that the pass will cost $72.75 and a single ticket jumps from $2.75 to $3. Fagstein has a detailed breakdown and tweeted a link to the new AMT fares for 2011.
Tux 10:53 on 2010/11/30 Permalink
Can someone politically/economically savvy tell me why transit fares have to be hiked every single year? If the STM doesn’t have enough money can’t they cut costs instead of increasing prices? Getting rid of their huge and largely worthless advertising campaigns (Montrealers know about the STM, we don’t need print or video ads telling us how awesome it is) might be a good start. Maybe get rid of the inspecteurs since they probably cost more in salary than they generate in tickets and they intimidate people anyway? Investigate ways of producing their own biofuel?
Kate 11:30 on 2010/11/30 Permalink
The STM does need a communications department to tell us about changes in services, things like that. Whether they needed their own font and all the stuff patting us on the back for being good environmental citizens seems less well founded. As for the inspectors, Quebec in general is weighed down with cadres who have graduated from the ranks and expect a cushier life, but who don’t produce much but bumf. Try to get rid of them, though…
Paul 12:30 on 2010/11/30 Permalink
I recall that one of Tremblay’s original campaign promises was that he’d extend the STM student discount to cover all students – regardless of age (i.e. high school – PhD. level). As far as I know there’s still an age limit on STM passes though. So much for that plank. This guy and transit.
Kate 22:11 on 2010/11/30 Permalink
Le Devoir notes that this is the first STM budget in awhile that should have no deficit.