Dec 1, 2015
The TAPS reorganization team has new leadership. The former chair of the board of directors, Collin County Commissioner Chris Hill, resigned amongst mixed reactions.
Board member Terrence Steele said it best. “Right now, we need a board that is cohesive,” Steele told Hill. “Right now, we need a unified board to move this organization to solid ground. I don’t see you fighting for TAPS. I see you putting every nail in the coffin.” Hill wanted to fire everyone, sell all the buses and other assets, and close the doors on TAPS permanently.
Hill presented the impression to staff and the public that he was doing everything possible to keep TAPS in operation, as he stated repeatedly at the Nov 24 meeting. It became evident that the opposite was true. In fact, he stated so as he resigned on Nov 30, and in a televised interview with KXII. Hill saw no way TAPS could survive. Hill wants a different agency to take over the multi-million dollar operation.
The new leadership has the opportunity to pursue a brighter vision for TAPS, the TAPS staff, the riding public and tax payers who fund the operation for the benefit of the Texoma public.
Why not declare bankruptcy? With debts on hold, they could pay employees, and buy some time to reorganize, reinstate several pending grants, and get the wheels in motion again. Perhaps the investigation of financial misconduct is a factor. Following the termination of its contract with TAPS Public Transit in November, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Office of the Inspector General launched an investigation into possible fraud and mismanagement of the Medicaid nonemergency medical transportation contract. – See more at: http://heralddemocrat.com/news/local/texas-health-and-human-services-commission-investigating-taps#sthash.Q11SEvt1.dpuf.
The next meeting of the board is Monday, Dec 7, 2:00.
So, why is TAPS 4 million dollars in debt? From what’s been said at the last two meetings, most of it is how much they received without providing proper documentation of the expenses, so now they owe it back. Plus they had failed to submit payroll taxes. Financial experts from TCOG and other agencies are assisting the board and CEO Tim Patton figure it out so that they can reduce the debt with receipts.
Perhaps if they look at checks written from 2012 thru 2015, they’ll see where the money went. Landmark Bank should have that information available.
Side note: take a look at FY2015-16 budget numbers at http://tapsbus.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/2015-2016-Budget.pdf. Notice admin salaries are three times the entire salaries of staff and drivers combined. Budgets for previous years, and other public documents are available at http://tapsbus.com/public-documents/. Take a look.
Recent History
September, 2015
“TAPS is a not-for-profit 501(c)3) organization beginning as a van and station wagon service in 1986, serving Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties. Today, TAPS Public Transit’s service area spans over 13,000 square miles across 16 counties in North Texas, and Bryan County in Southeastern Oklahoma. The agency has a fleet of 140 vehicles with 278 employees. TAPS Public Transit also provides non-emergency medical transportation to Medicaid members through a contract with the State of Texas Health and Human Services Commission.” http://tapsbus.com/patton-named-ceo/
November, 2015: http://heralddemocrat.com/news/local/texas-health-and-human-services-commission-investigating-taps
Today
TAPS fixed routes have been canceled until further notice. This includes all routes in Sherman, Denison, Allen and McKinney. The Red River Route (Tx-Ok) and the TexExpress to/from DART Plano are also canceled. Click here to see the status of all TAPS routes.
The TAPS Get-a-Ride, curb-to-curb, service is running. The rules have changed. Trips are limited to rides for medical-related appointments only. There is availability. Click here to find out more or call (800) 256-0911, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (closed on holidays).
About the Nov 30 board meeting:
Read this report from North Texas e-News: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_98566.shtml
Watch this report from KTEN: http://www.kten.com/story/30635007/taps-board-chairman-resigns-and-transit-company-once-again-misses-payroll
Watch this report from KXII: http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/TAPS-board-chair-resigns-Fannin-County-judge-appointed-to-post-359079741.html