San Francisco set to push transit benefits for commuters

(SF Examiner) After fighting to stave off reductions to federal tax breaks for public transit commuters, San Francisco is on the verge of strengthening enforcement of a 4-year-old law that requires larger businesses to offer employees commuter benefits.

The Environment Commission will vote Tuesday on new enforcement regulations, which would create a process for how complaints and investigations would be handled to ensure compliance with the 2009 law.

Last year, Mayor Ed Lee and other city officials lobbied Congress to restore funding for the pretax commuter benefit. The program allows commuters to use pretax dollars to pay for riding public transit. Last year, Congress failed to extend a parity provision in the program and the benefit decreased from an allowable deduction of $230 per month to $125. At the same time, the benefit for parking increased to $240, adjusted for inflation.

But on Jan. 1, the pretax commuter benefit increased to $245 as part of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. ................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/transportation/2013/03/san-francisco-set-push-transit-benefits-commuters#ixzz2OHWB16RS