PCB City Council to consider 50-cent per mile hike in taxi rates due to soaring gas prices

Nathan Cobb, The News Herald
·2 min read
In a Panama City Beach City Council meeting on Thursday, officials discussed the possibility of incorporating emergency tornado sirens on the Beach.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — As drivers grapple with soaring gas prices, those who use taxis soon could feel the same sting on the Beach.

During a City Council meeting Thursday morning, councilmen are scheduled to discuss an ordinance to hike by 50 cents per mile the rates charged by taxis, limousines and shuttles that operate within the limits of Panama City Beach.

Richard Brake, general manager of Beach Boys Shuttle Taxi and Limo, said the fee increase not only is necessary, but something that hopefully will help his business attract more drivers. He had a staff of 15 as of Monday, operating only about half of the available cars.

"It's sad to say that times have came to that, but (it's needed) with gas prices and trying to keep the vehicles going," Brake said.

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With the average price of a gallon of gas in Bay County more than $4, Brake said raising taxi rates would help drivers more than the company because his drivers are responsible for refueling their cars out of their own pockets at the end of each shift.

Drivers for Beach Boys Shuttle, which is located off Front Beach Road, split 50% of their earnings, excluding tips, with the company.

"With the way times are now, (with) inflation and recession, I think it's a good time to do it," Brake said of the possible increase.

According to the council meeting's agenda, city leaders set the current maximum mileage rate of $2.50 per mile in January 2014.

If passed Thursday, the new maximum mileage rate, which would go into effect June 1, would climb to $3 per mile.

Leaders also will consider Thursday raising by 50 cents an additional fee for riders who are taken to or picked up from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. It currently is $1.

For context, Pier Park is about 14 miles away from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport. Using the current rates, a single rider for Beach Boys now pays about $36. This would increase with the new rates to about $43.50.

Someone traveling from the airport to Bay Point, about a 25-mile trip, now pays about $63.50. This would increase with the new rates to about $76.50.

"Given the passage of time since the approval of that rate schedule, the City Council finds it is necessary and appropriate to reconsider and update that rate schedule," the PCB Council agenda states.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach considers increase for taxi rates as gas prices soar