DRPA operating costs rise
CAMDEN - The Delaware River Port Authority is expected to approve a higher operating budget of nearly $156 million for 2017 at its meeting Wednesday.
Because the bistate agency's income levels have improved, there will not be toll increases on its four river bridges, as earlier promised by DRPA officials.
Chief Financial Officer James White said an increase in employee pension payments to the state of Pennsylvania is responsible for much of the $6 million increase from this year's operating budget for the bridges, the PATCO Hi-Speedline and administration. He said the authority also is paying down more of its debt.
"There is a nominal increase of less than 2 percent in the budget, mostly because of state-mandated pensions from both states, although most of our employees are in the Pennsylvania system," said DRPA finance committee chairman and Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey Nash.
He praised staff for keeping other operating expenses in check and for the continued pursuit of energy savings "to reduce our carbon footprint."
The finance committee recommendation for budget adoption by the full board came at its meeting this week. Approval is expected at the next monthly authority meeting Wednesday at its headquarters at One Port Center in Camden.
The proposed DRPA operating budget is $99.2 million and the PATCO budget $56.7 million.
Like many rapid transit systems in the nation, PATCO incurs an annual operating loss. The authority budgets a PATCO subsidy every year to keep it operating and projects the subsidy amount this year at $29.7 million – more than this year's projected $27 million.
Last month the authority approved its capital budget for the coming year of $158.3 million that provides for continued rehabilitation of PATCO transit cars and painting of the Walt Whitman and Commodore Barry Bridges. It is financing that entire amount from operating revenue, so it will not have to borrow any of the money.
Carol Comegno: (609) 533-0306; ccomegno@gannettnj.com
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