Photo courtesy of Greater Spokane.
STA budget dilemma might include raising fares. The Spokane Transit Authority has a problem: While ridership has increased, revenue is falling since more than 70 percent of their funding comes from sales taxes. According to the S-R, the $79 million budget for 2009 calls for delaying purchases of some buses, postponing high-tech innovations and slightly reducing the number of jobs. As for the fare increase, the citizen advisory committee will brainstorm ideas and then take their suggestions to the public for comment before the STA makes a decision. (A 25-cent increase is expected.) Full story here.
Energy assistance. A federal program called Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has increased its funds due to high heating oil and natural gas prices this winter. The program is administered through community service agencies in each state (like SNAP) but unlike state funds, this money can’t be held back or withdrawn due to budget deficits. Full story here.
From Rebecca Nappi, below are some instructions for local energy assistance:
•In-person appointments are required to receive non-emergency energy assistance. Spokane County residents should call SNAP’s appointment line – (509) 242-2376 – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A limited number of appointments can be scheduled at www.snapwa.org on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
•In Kootenai County, energy assistance is given through Community Action Partnership in Coeur d’Alene, which can be reached at (208) 664-8757. If residents have a shut-off notice or are dangerously low of their heating source material, they should call as soon as the notice appears or the emergency arises. If they are current with their bill, they should call for an appointment the first week of January, because all December appointments are booked.
•SNAP and Community Action Partnership urge low-income residents to let their utility company know that they are trying to schedule – or have scheduled – appointments for energy assistance so that their heating supplies will not be shut off.
The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.
Photo courtesy of Greater Spokane.
STA budget dilemma might include raising fares. The Spokane Transit Authority has a problem: While ridership has increased, revenue is falling since more than 70 percent of their funding comes from sales taxes. According to the S-R, the $79 million budget for 2009 calls for delaying purchases of some buses, postponing high-tech innovations and slightly reducing the number of jobs. As for the fare increase, the citizen advisory committee will brainstorm ideas and then take their suggestions to the public for comment before the STA makes a decision. (A 25-cent increase is expected.) Full story here.
Energy assistance. A federal program called Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has increased its funds due to high heating oil and natural gas prices this winter. The program is administered through community service agencies in each state (like SNAP) but unlike state funds, this money can’t be held back or withdrawn due to budget deficits. Full story here.
From Rebecca Nappi, below are some instructions for local energy assistance:
•In-person appointments are required to receive non-emergency energy assistance. Spokane County residents should call SNAP’s appointment line – (509) 242-2376 – Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A limited number of appointments can be scheduled at www.snapwa.org on Wednesdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
•In Kootenai County, energy assistance is given through Community Action Partnership in Coeur d’Alene, which can be reached at (208) 664-8757. If residents have a shut-off notice or are dangerously low of their heating source material, they should call as soon as the notice appears or the emergency arises. If they are current with their bill, they should call for an appointment the first week of January, because all December appointments are booked.
•SNAP and Community Action Partnership urge low-income residents to let their utility company know that they are trying to schedule – or have scheduled – appointments for energy assistance so that their heating supplies will not be shut off.
