MargateNews.net - http://margatenews.net/margatenews/ Original Article URL: http://margatenews.net/margatenews/news/articles/article130.asp Margate Inner City Transit Drivers Face Pay Cut • Bus drivers could make 20 percent less By Casey Reynolds, Contributing Writer Monday, July 13, 2009 In a move to save taxpayers more than $200,000 in the upcoming budget year while maintaining local bus service to residents, the Margate city commission directed city staff Wednesday night to proceed negotiating with Limousines of South Florida Inc. (LSF) to  run Margate Inner City Transit. Most of the savings would come in the form of payroll, as the city would no longer be paying bus drivers an average $18 an hour. Drivers working for LSF would be paid between $11 and $15 an hour, depending on if LSF conforms to Broward’s Living Wage, to which they are not required to comply. Drivers currently working for Margate Inner City Transit will have the option to keep their jobs and be paid less. They would continue receiving health benefits. Margate Mayor, Arthur Bross and Vice Mayor, Joe Varsallone expressed little interest in sparing Margate Inner City Transit routes from impending budget cuts. Commissioners Frank Talerico, Pam Donovan and Dave McLean were in support of negotiating a contract with LSF. “If the [city manager] can come back with a good deal, I’m all for it,” McLean said.   Reader Opinion __________________________________________ Copyright Cassius Group 2009