City OKs trolley train rate hike

City OKs trolley train rate hike



From Staff
Publication Date: 01/14/09


St. Augustine's two trolley train companies are raising their rates, and the city approved the increase.

The companies, Old Town Trolley Trains and St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains, are pushing up rates from $21 to $24 for adults and $8 to $11 for children.

Mark Litzinger, city comptroller, said the last time the companies raised their rates was in 2005.

He said the companies have a franchise with the city and needed the City Commission to approve the new rates.

Litzinger and city staff suggested the commission also raise the franchise fee from 2.5 percent of the trolley trains' gross sales to 3 percent. Under the franchise agreement, the city can increase the fee every three years by a half percent, Litzinger said.

Mayor Joe Boles said Monday at the City Commission meeting that he would not vote in favor of boosting the franchise fee without further research from city staff.

The issue will come before the commission again on Feb. 9.

Litzinger said the city brings in $121,000 a year from the trolley train companies' franchise fees. The bump up in the fee would give the city another $25,000.


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