CITY MALL: Senior Taxi Gets Funding But Needs Guardian Angels for the Future

Muskego’s Senior Taxi Service will receive $5,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds following Tuesday night’s City Council meeting.   The Council unanimously voted for the grant, while Mayor John Johnson urged the group to consider new funding strategies for next year in the event budget cuts reduce CDBG resources. 

The local Senior Taxi Service was jump started in 2008 with a $10,000 grant from the City of Muskego.  Since then, the number of rides taken by seniors has grown nearly tenfold and the annual budget has climbed to $60,000.   

“We’ve given 10,600 rides since we started,” said Daniel Henry, Executive Director for the non-profit group in a follow-up interview.  Raising prices to support the service is not an option, Henry said.  

“The economy is bad and senior citizens are hit worse than anybody,” he explained.  “Social Security hasn’t seen an increase in two years.  Yet gas goes up, clothing goes up, and food goes up,” Henry said, and seniors simply can’t afford to pay more.

Only a third of the budget - about $20,000 - is generated by rider fees.  The remainder of the budget comes from government funding, donations, and group fundraising, Henry said.  Even the drivers donate their services to keep the taxis running.

“This program is amazing,” said Alderman Keith Werner in support of the project.  “It’s the one thing we offer seniors.” 

Because demand is rising and government funding sources may not be available in the future, Henry welcomes donors to contact Senior Tax Service at (262)679-4754 or email muskegoseniortaxi@yahoo.com.  Donations may also be mailed to Senior Taxi Service at W181 S8540 Lodge Blvd., Muskego WI  53150 (their office is inside Regency Senior Community).