Carbondale cab drivers may get the pay increase for which they have been waiting.

A request by Rob Taylor, operator of Carbondale Moonlight Taxi, to increase cab fare in Carbondale by a dollar was approved by the City Council Tuesday night. The increase will go into effect beginning on Dec. 17.

City Manager Jeff Doherty said the request is fair because rates have not been increased since September 2000.

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Cab fares in Carbondale are much lower than those in Chicago, but the cost of maintenance for vehicles are the same and have been continually rising as well, Taylor said. Such increases are reasons Taylor said he had to turn his company into a one-man operation.

“It is not uncommon for cities to regulate cab fares,” Taylor said.

The measure approved also asks city officials to reconfigure a map currently dividing the city in order to be less confusing. Taylor said the cab services in Carbondale would be better if they began using meters to designate the due fare, instead of a confusing map that would require a driver with extreme knowledge.

Though most of Tuesday night’s agenda went smoothly with few citizen comments, debates began when the Council was asked to approve a measure that would financially support worthy community organizations in the fiscal year 2009 budget.

Richard Hayes, of Attucks Community Service, said the Council did not know the entirety of the organization’s progress in correcting tax violations. Such violations, Hayes said, could put members of the organization in prison.

Mayor Brad Cole said Hayes’ tone and accusations had hurt Hayes’ wishes to have the city finance Attucks in the 2007 fiscal year budget.

“I am only being passionate,” Hayes said.

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The original measure, as well as a motion made by Councilman Steven Haynes to instantly fund Attucks with a requested sum of $69,000, failed. It would not have approved financing the organizations, but to move applications to a review by city officials, Cole said.

The council also authorized Cole to enter into a contract with Public Management Consultants, LLC of Lake Bluff.

The firm would assist the city’s nationwide search for a new city manager. Doherty announced his June 30 retirement date earlier this month after 16 years of serving as city manager. Cole said he would like to have the new city manager sign a contract by May 2008.

Barton Lorimor can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 274 or [email protected].