Votes split on SCOOT

SCOOT — or, the San Carlos Optimal Operational Transit as it is formally known — was born as a way to shuttle children to school, cart the elderly to appointments and get commuters to the train station without clogging city streets. Now, two years later, the program is facing extinction if the city doesn't raise $3.25 million in new taxes over the next five years.

Signs opposing the tax are sprouting up in the hills of San Carlos, but the slow-going campaign might do little to persuade the voters who already mailed their absentee ballots.

"It has avoided traffic issues, but I'm sick of being taxed on everything," said one San Carlos resident who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution from parents at her son's school.

The woman already sent in her ballot opposing the tax and her shopping companion at Trader Joe's also said she'll vote no on Tuesday. Neither woman has used the shuttle service, however, one woman's son once used it to get to school, she said.

With most city officials supporting SCOOT and touting its impressive record, many residents find it hard to publicly confess to disliking the tax.

"I think it's a waste," one anonymous senior citizen bluntly said. "I don't use it, I have a car."

In 2002, the $1 million pilot program was funded from a transportation sales tax, gas tax and money typically used for street repair. Ridership on the 20-person shuttles hit its peak in March with 19,387 trips — double that of the previous year. Primary users include school children and the elderly although more than 500 commuters also benefit by taking routes to the Caltrain station.

In its brief existence, the program doubled and tripled ridership and merited numerous accolades and awards.

People who do support it are doing so in hopes of helping senior citizens and downtown merchants.

"This town is all senior citizens and people who live here are very loyal to the businesses," said Kim Morley as she spent time on Laurel Street yesterday afternoon. Morley plans to vote in favor of the tax on Tuesday. She has never used the shuttle because she lives close to downtown.

Last November, the council voted 4 to 1 in favor of placing the $59 amount on the ballot despite a consultant's recommendation for a lower amount of $39.

With local gas tax funds dwindling, the city was forced to find other ways to keep the shuttles afloat past July. New operators and grants helped cut drop costs to roughly $700,000 annually but the rocky economic climate makes that a big bill for the city to afford. Any tax lower than $59 a year will not keep the service afloat.

An 11-member task force considered multiple ideas, such as a per-fare fee or school district subsidies, but in the end settled on a parcel tax idea.

The city paid $50,000 to hold a special election after it paid $14,000 on a study commissioned to tell the council the unlikely feasibility of a parcel tax passing.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.