PHILADELPHIA
PARKING AUTHORITYPhiladelphia Taxicab and Limousine Division Fiscal Year 2014 Budget and Fees [43 Pa.B. 1063]
[Saturday, February 16, 2013]The Philadelphia Parking Authority (Authority), Taxicab and Limousine Division (TLD) has submitted the following Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 Budget and Fees for review and comment. Written comments are due by the close of business on Wednesday, February 20, 2013. Comments may be forwarded to Charles Milstein, Assistant to the Director at cmilstein@philapark.org or to James R. Ney, Director, Taxicab and Limousine Division, Philadelphia Parking Authority, 2415 South Swanson Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148, (215) 683-9417, fax (215) 683-9437 or jney@philapark.org. The budget and public comment invitation were forwarded by means of e-mail to all certificate holders and anyone with an e-mail address registered with the TLD and posted on the Authority's web site on February 7, 2013.
Additionally, a public Comment Hearing will be held at the offices of the TLD at the previously listed address on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, at 10:30 a.m.
VINCENT J. FENERTY, Jr.,
Executive DirectorPhiladelphia Parking Authority Taxicab & Limousine Division Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2014 Budget Hospitality Initiative Report Fiscal Year 2014 Fee Schedule Section One Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2014 Budget FY 2014 Budget Highlights The proposed budget for the Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxicab and Limousine Division for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014, is submitted directly under 53 Pa.C.S. Sect. 5707 and is presented in two parts.
The restrictions on the use of the ''Medallion Fund'' require that the two components of the Division—taxicab and limousine industries—maintain separate financial records therefore, the budgets are presented separately. In addition, to provide perspective, each budget presentation includes the actual revenue and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2012, the forecast amounts for Fiscal Year 2013, and the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014.
The highlights below show the combined budget amounts for both the taxicab and limousine components of the Division. The detailed line items for each part can be found on the following pages.
• Total revenue is projected to be $5,934,620, the major components of which are:
o Vehicle Registration Fees—$2,500,000
o Parking Ticket Surcharge—$1,200,000
o Vehicle Inspection Fees—$251,500
o Violation Fines & Penalties—$247,000
o Driver Training & Certification Fees—$450,000
o Medallion and Limousine Company Transfer Fees—$1,036,000• Total program costs are $5,874,399, the major components of which are:
o Personnel Costs—$3,799,837
o Auto Expense—$95,140
o Professional fees including IT, legal, accounting, consulting, etc.—$375,000
o Rent—$255,617
o PPA Support including all administrative functions such as purchasing, human resources, finance, etc.—$756,720• Excess of Revenues over Expenses—$59,221—All operating profits are invested back into Taxicab and Limousine operations.
Taxicab Branch FY 2012
ActualFY 2013
ForecastFY 2014
BudgetRevenue—Medallion Cabs Assessments 1,936,965 2,000,000 2,000,000 Revenue—Partial Rights Cabs Assessments 6,375 150,000 140,000 Revenue—State Inspections 232,290 250,000 250,000 Revenue—Driver Training 311,467 345,000 375,000 Revenue—Fees 54,400 65,004 26,000 Revenue—Violation Appeal 9,427 30,000 25,000 Revenue—Fines & Violations 188,041 180,000 200,000 Medallion Fund Transfer 609,970 14,829 Administrative Surcharge 1,034,267 1,100,000 1,100,000 Medallion Transfers 485,053 675,000 1,000,000 Dispatch Fees 32,500 38,500 Interest Income 2,313 1,700 2,620 Miscellaneous Revenue 256,007 200,000 175,000 Total Gross Revenue 5,456,004 5,369,033 5,332,120 Collection Services (1,000 ) (1,000 ) Net Revenue 5,456,004 5,368,033 5,331,120 Payroll Costs Payroll 1,775,141 1,832,704 1,888,841 Fringes 624,831 636,613 663,200 Pension 697,949 632,865 778,476 Post retirement benefits 84,997 90,506 119,022 Total Payroll Costs 3,182,918 3,192,688 3,449,539 Operating Expenses: Advertising 5,890 2,801 2,800 Auto Expense 71,406 74,834 79,335 Credit Card Fees 1,138 36,073 36,000 Equipment 14,525 22,871 23,000 Insurance 126,087 145,796 145,750 Printing 4,155 5,700 5,700 Depreciation 99,428 102,775 103,800 Misc. Expenses 19,096 1,200 1,200 Office Expense 45,994 75,280 75,280 Professional Fees 468,301 343,884 350,000 Rent Expense 230,328 205,297 215,000 Real Estate Tax 63,979 13,117 13,117 Repairs & Maintenance 19,157 15,515 15,500 Telephone 3,590 6,575 6,575 Criminal Record Check 49,360 51,400 51,000 Uniforms 17,943 14,500 15,000 Utilities 51,710 54,884 50,000 Total Operating Expense 1,620,673 1,498,653 1,189,057 Total Expenses 4,803,591 4,691,341 4,638,596 Operating Profit 652,413 676,692 712,524 Other Income/Expenses Support 652,413 676,692 690,072 _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Net Gain (Loss) from Operations 0 0 2,452 Limousine Operations FY 2012
ActualFY 2013
ForecastFY 2014
BudgetRevenue—Assessments 308,491 463,135 360,000 Revenue—State Inspections 150 9,730 1,500 Revenue—Driver Training 87,140 83,179 75,000 Revenue—Fees 12,019 3,000 Revenue—Violation Appeal 800 1,755 2,000 Revenue—Fines & Violations 14,115 20,943 20,000 Administrative Surcharge 119,114 107,643 100,000 Revenue—Limo Transfers 34,000 17,111 36,000 Miscellaneous Revenue 3,030 5,204 5,000 Total Gross Revenue 566,840 720,719 602,500 Net Revenue 566,840 720,719 602,500 Payroll Costs Payroll 197,238 202,509 211,939 Fringes 69,426 72,672 77,981 Pension 77,550 44,975 46,829 Post retirement benefits 9,444 12,758 13,549 Total Payroll Costs 353,658 332,914 350,298 Operating Expenses: Advertising 655 308 300 Auto Expense 7,538 15,417 15,805 Credit Card Fees 5 191 200 Criminal Record Check 830 830 Equipment 1,614 3,445 3,500 Insurance 10,589 16,510 16,500 Printing 462 2,608 2,600 Depreciation 10,034 11,802 14,200 Misc. Expenses 2,122 3,054 3,000 Office Expense 5,110 8,719 9,000 Professional Fees 30,309 24,743 25,000 Rent Expense 25,592 26,109 26,000 Real Estate Tax 19,471 1,464 1,500 Repairs & Maintenance 2,129 1,817 2,000 Telephone 399 720 750 Uniforms 1,994 1,548 1,600 Utilities 5,746 6,046 6,000 Total Operating Expense 123,769 125,331 128,785 Total Expenses 477,427 458,245 479,083 Operating Profit 89,413 262,474 123,417 Other Income/Expenses Support 64,968 59,609 66,648 _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Net Gain (Loss) from Operations 24,445 202,865 56,769
Taxicab & Limousine Division FY 2014 Budgeted Staff Positions Title Budgeted
PositionsDirector 1 Deputy Director 1 Assistant to the Director 1 Manager, Administration 1 Manager, Training 1 Deputy Manager, Vehicle Inspections 1 Supervisor, Administration 1 Supervisor, Enforcement 2 Inspectors 10 Training Coordinator 1 Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Coordinator 1 Processing Coordinator 1 Analyst 2 Processing Specialist 5 Administrative Law Judge 1 Court Reporter 1 Executive Assistant 1 Secretary 4 Lead Auto Mechanic 1 Auto Mechanic Helper 3 Security Officer 1 Intern 1 Total 42 Nineteen positions are represented by AFSCME, District Council 47, and four positions are represented by AFSCME, District Council 33. Contracts for those represented positions have been extended since they expired in 2008. The budgeted amounts for personnel costs are based on the staffing levels above, and wage and benefit costs under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement. The conclusion of negotiations with AFSCME could impact these costs.
Section Two Hospitality Initiative Report Hospitality Initiative Background
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (''PUC'') accumulated millions of dollars through the sale of taxicab medallions in Philadelphia prior to 2005. The proceeds of those sales were deposited into the PUC's ''First Class City Taxicab Regulatory Fund'' (the ''PUC Fund''). Pursuant to Section 23(2) of Act 94 of 2004, the PUC Fund was to be delivered to the Authority upon completion of the overall transfer of regulatory power between the PUC and the Authority.
Section 23 made $2M from the PUC Fund available to the Authority prior to the date the Authority began to regulate taxicabs in Philadelphia. The General Assembly clearly observed a pressing need for rapid improvement to the condition of taxicabs in Philadelphia and made these funds available to the Authority earlier than the balance of the PUC Fund. This early allocation of funding was intended to precipitate consideration of consumer friendly enhancements to taxicab service, prior to the date the Authority actually started to regulate taxicabs in Philadelphia.
This project is referred to as the Hospitality Initiative in Section 23, a term continued by the Authority to this date. The Authority, in consultation with stakeholders in Philadelphia, determined that the Hospitality Initiative should be an updated and uniform taxicab meter technology (the ''Meter System''). The Meter System replaced the disparate and outdated meters previously used in Philadelphia and provided several modern consumer friendly conveniences. The Meter System provides GPS based navigation assistance for drivers, a panic button for driver safety, rear seat credit card payment options and advances data management and regulatory enforcement capabilities. In 2006, the Meter System was purchased and installed in every medallion taxicab with money from this initiative and has succeeded in purpose of being a significant enhancement to consumer friendly taxicab service.
Because the Authority did not use the $2M identified in Section 23 before December 31, 2005, it was never independently transferred to the Authority and was never segregated into a separate account from the PUC's Fund until all of the money in the PUC Fund passed to the Authority's Taxicab Account, created pursuant to Act 94, 53 Pa.C.S. § 5708(a). Funds in the Authority's Taxicab Account may only be used in furtherance of taxicab concerns and as provided in the Act. Section 23 of the Act did not provide a spending cap on a Hospitality Initiative; it simply made a portion of the PUC Fund that was later transferred to the Authority available to the Authority early.
It is important to note that the Authority's Fiscal Year 2005 Budget and Fee Schedule were submitted in March 2005 to the General Assembly for review as provided in Act 94. 53 Pa.C.S. § 5707(a). The 2005 Budget included an update on the Authority's implementation of the Hospitality Initiative and provided that the response to the Authority's Request for Proposals placed the cost of the Meter System at between $3M and $4M. Therefore, the Authority's 2005 Budget requested that a total of $3.5M be made available for the Meter System, which was anticipated to be encumbered within 9 months of the date the Authority assumed regulatory control in Philadelphia from the PUC, April 10, 2005. The 2005 Budget was deemed approved on or about April 14, 2005. The Authority's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget requested an additional $560,000 to implement the Meter System.
The Meter System has been installed in all medallion taxicabs and in the facilities of each dispatcher for over 6 years. Given the cutting edge technological nature of the Meter System it experienced relatively few problems upon installation and has functioned properly for several years. Members of the traveling public have embraced the credit card payment options, automatic availability of receipts, and rear seat payment options. The Meter System is a powerful regulatory tool as well, permitting the Authority to track taxicab routes, which discourages rate gouging and enables the Authority to find items left behind in taxicabs by passengers. The Meter System also has an emergency distress button to assist drivers and has a function that requires each driver to swipe his or her Authority issued driver identification card to enable the system; this function deters the operation of taxicabs by uncertified persons.
Subsequent to the initiation of the Meter System in Philadelphia, several other major cities, including New York, Boston, Chicago and Las Vegas have implemented substantially similar systems.
Future of the Hospitality Initiative
The Authority anticipates that the Hospitality Initiative will end on or before June 1, 2013.
Challenges to the Authority's regulatory power in 2009 through this year delayed the Authority's plans to close out the Meter System contract. Because the Authority's new regulations were made effective through publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin on December 3, 2011, we believe the regulatory stability necessary to close out this agreement now exists. 41 Pa.B. 6499. To that end, the Authority's Board has authorized an amendment to the Meter System contract that will require the Authority's contractor to install brand new systems in all medallion taxicabs by June 1, 2013 at no cost to taxicab owners.
The contractor has agreed to the terms of the amendment in consideration of the payment of the balance due on the original contract ($850,000). The Authority will not require additional funds to implement this amendment. Additionally, a second modern meter system is in a preliminary test phase in Philadelphia. It is anticipated that the meter system of this new provider will become an approved meter system on or before June 1, 2013. From that point forward, medallion owners will be free to select their own meter system providers, at their own cost, provided the taxicab meter has been approved by the Authority.
As with any technology, many improvements to taxicab meter systems have been made since 2005. This final phase of the Hospitality Initiative will result in the overall modernization of the taxicab meter systems in all medallion taxicabs and bring new service enhancements for drivers, passengers and the Authority and additional revenue potential generated by small screen TV type advertisements.
Section Three Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2014 Fee Schedule THE PHILADELPHIA PARKING AUTHORITY TAXICAB AND LIMOUSINE DIVISION PROPOSED FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2013 The table below lists all fees for the Taxicab & Limousine Division for the Fiscal Year 2014. The Authority may also charge for goods such as postings in taxicabs, training material and incidental services such as copying, computer access and record checks.
All fees are non refundable. Fee Description Fee Annual Medallion Assessment Fee for all Taxicabs $1,275 / medallion payable in 2 installments if elected & approved Annual Metered or Mileage Based Tariff Limousine Fee—1—15 $700 for first 15 vehicles Annual Metered or Mileage Based Tariff Limousine Fee—16—30 $650 for second 15 vehicles Annual Metered or Mileage Based Tariff Limousine Fee—31 or more $600 for all additional vehicles Annual Assessment Fee for Partial Rights Cabs $1,275 / vehicle payable in 2 installments if elected & approved Annual Fee for Limousines—All Classes 1—15 $350 for the first 15 vehicles Annual Fee for Limousines—All Classes 16—30 $325 for the second 15 vehicles Annual Fee for Limousines—All Classes 31 or more $300 for all additional vehicles Non-metered Limousine Stickers Pro-rated 1/1/14 to 3/31/14 50% Discount $175, $162.50, $150 Non-metered Limousine Stickers Pro-rated 4/1/14 to 6/30/14 75% Discount $87.50, $81.25, $75.00 Limousine Replacement Registration Sticker $30 Remote Carrier Registration Fee per Vehicle per Year $15 Annual Assessment Fee for Dispatcher $2,750 Dispatcher Change in Colors and Markings Scheme $500 Annual Renewal Fee for Single Driver Certificate $80 Annual Renewal Fee for Dual Driver Certificate $160 Duplicate Certificate Replacement $25 New Driver Certification with Classroom Training Required for Taxicab Driver Certification $130 New Driver Certification without Classroom Training (For Limousine Drivers Only) $100 Dual Driver Certification $230 Individual Medallion or CPC Ownership Transfer Fee $2,000 or 3% of purchase price, whichever is greater Annual Medallion Broker Registration Fee $1,200 Application for new Dispatch Certificate—Fee $15,000 Application for new Limousine Certificate—Fee $12,000 Additional Limousine Rights at time of Initial Application $3,000 Additional Limousine Rights after Initial Rights Granted by Board $6,000 Application Protest Fee $2,500 Petition Filing fee for Regulation Waivers and Non-Waiver Petitions $200 New Car & Replacement Vehicle Transfers $200 PA State and TLD Semi Annual Inspections Under 210,000 miles $75 PA State and TLD Semi Annual Inspections, 210,000 Miles and Above $100 Inspection Fee for Green & Accessible Vehicles Under 200,000 Miles $50 Inspection Fee for Green & Accessible Vehicles, 200,000 Miles & Above $75 Emission Waiver $100 Re-Inspection Fee at 3rd Inspection after 2 Failures $125 Re-Scheduling Fee $100 Offsite Limousine Inspection per Vehicle (twice standard fee) $150 Medallion Return after Sheriff Levy $200 Administrative Hearing Fee (due if found liable) $75 Cab Replacement Postings (each) $10 (each posting) PennDOT Processing Fees (above PennDOT costs) $20 Bounced Check Fee $200 Voluntary Suspension of Individual Medallion or CPC $50 [Pa.B. Doc. No. 13-310. Filed for public inspection February 15, 2013, 9:00 a.m.]
