The decision by the Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners to end service to the small cities of East Pierce County is not sitting well with the mayors of those cities.

As they did when the possibility of loosing buses was first mentioned last year, the mayors are again talking about the possibility of trying to leave the transit authority’s taxing district.

“I don’t think it’s fair or right or anything to remove service but keep the fee for that service,” Bonney Lake Mayor Neil Johnson said. “To me that’s just not fair.”

According to the Washington State Department of revenue, the cities of Bonney Lake, Sumner, Buckley and Orting – which are all scheduled to lose service in October – contributed approximately $4.8 million in sales tax to Pierce Transit in 2010.

“Should we be paying that money?” asked Buckley Mayor Pat Johnson. “I don’t think we should be.”

The Pierce Transit Board of Commissioners May 10 voted to reject the “reduction plan” that would have greatly reduced service to the region, in favor of focusing on increasing ridership in urban areas. The decision follows years of falling sales tax revenues that have led to a $51 million budget gap and the rejection of a February ballot measure that would have increased Pierce Transit’s share of sales tax by 0.3 percent.

More than 64 percent of voters in the 31st legislative district, which includes Sumner, Bonney Lake and Buckley, rejected the ballot measure.

Neil Johnson, who serves as the small cities representative on the Pierce Transit board, said there have been a few conversations with the other mayors, but it was still too early to figure out a next step, but again said he would like to see buses in this area or be allowed to keep the sales tax money for the city.

“I’d prefer they give some limited service to east Pierce County until the economy turns around,” he said. “But if they are going to eliminate service, let’s redraw the boundaries.”

Johnson called the board “Tacoma-centric” and said it is possible the board is holding a grudge toward East Pierce because it voted down the ballot measure.

Johnson said there is a misunderstanding on the board that the area does not support transit, but that is not the case.

“I don’t think they’re anti-transit, they want smart transit that works,” he said.

Pat Johnson agreed and said though the area may not have the population to support a lot of service, it is still necessary and she does not think the board has explored all of its options.

“We need transit out here,” she said. “At this end of the county we’re pretty spread out.”

Sumner Mayor Dave Enslow also lamented the difficult choices facing Pierce Transit.

“These days, every jurisdiction understands having to make tough choices and painful cuts,” Enslow said in an e-mail. “I hate to see our service go and can understand cutting underperforming routes.

“What is most troubling is the loss of the very popular routes that allow train riders to park in park and rides and make the train—those options are the lifelines of rural communities,” he said.

According to Jessyn Farell, interim public relations officer for Pierce Transit, the 496 connector between the Bonney Lake Park and Ride and the Sumner Sounder Station is also slated for elimination, but Sound Transit and Pierce Transit are in discussions to keep that line open.

Neil Johnson said the most important thing residents can do is speak up in favor of keeping bus service.

“It’s going to take people to get upset,” he said. “If they really want transit to remain, this is when the people need to get involved.

“If no one complains and gets upset, they’re going to think no one needs transit,” he said.

A public hearing is scheduled for 4 p.m. June 13 at Pierce Transit headquarters, 3720 96th Street SW, Lakewood. A vote is expected in June or July.

For more information visit www.piercetransit.org.

THIS STORY HAS BEEN CORRECTED to change the future status of the 496 line.