The owner of U Need A Cab says he didn’t get everything he wanted but he’s still pretty pleased with the decision the North Bay Police Services Board made as it relates to taxi rates.

The so-called drop rate, which is the price as you enter a cab, is going up by 1.9 per cent, based on the Consumer Price Index to about $4.70 and the roll rate which is what you pay per kilometre is rising by 20 per cent.

John Strang says they didn’t get what they they wanted on the drop rate.

“But we did get that on the per kilometre rate and the wait times so we’re pleased that the Police Services Board, the chief and the deputy chief recognized the hard cost to the taxi industry.”

He says they’ve been dealing with the impact of the rise in the minimum wage.

Strang says they’re not trying to make money out of this but they need to recover costs and keep 47 people employed.
Strang says he’s had a 21 % increase in the payroll since the minimum wage come in.

“This is a victory and this goes a long way to help us recoup our cost that are associated with the minimum wage.”

Filed under: North Bay Police Services Board, taxi rates