BY THE NUMBERS: Transportation Costs for Taunton Migrant Shelter and how they add up

Last week, we reported that transportation costs for the migrants at the Clarion hotel in Taunton totaled over $8 million dollars and we now have some insight into how those tax dollars are being spent.

In a records request to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, we received documents related to contracts with the two companies, TransAction Associates, Inc and Mercedes Cab Company, Inc. that are providing transportation services to the emergency shelter.

TransAction Associates had an existing contract with the state for transportation services dating back to 2015 with an option to renew one year at a time for ten years. Initial funding back in 2015 was for $635,000 and was as low as $580,000 in 2022. That number jumped to $1,226,000 in 2023 and more than doubled in Fiscal Year 2024 to $3,580,322.

A further breakdown of the FY 2024 total of $3,5880,322 details how some of the money was spent:

• $357,634 on dispatchers, clerical support, staff and overtime
• $161,380 fringe benefits
• $2,062,545 contracted transportation
• $242,126 vehicle expenses

Mercedes Cab Company, Inc. seems to show a new contract with the state, with no previous contract details provided:

The FY 2024 contract with Mercedes Cab Company Inc. was less detailed and did not provide a budget breakdown:

The Clarion hotel has been used as an emergency migrant shelter since May of 2023 and continues to be at full capacity housing 120 families. Transportation services available to migrants at the hotel provide rides to locations such as doctors’ offices, grocery stores, visits with legal and immigration services and other service providers.