HAVERHILL - If you depend on a taxicab to get around town, you may be faced with digging deeper into your pocket to pay the fare.
The city's two taxi companies have asked the city's permission to increase the rates they are allowed to charge customers.

The proposal would increase the cost of shorter trips by about 25 percent. For example, the cost of traveling a mile in a cab would jump from $3.45 to $4.35. The increase in costs of longer rides would be less - jumping from $11.85 to $13.95 for a five-mile trip, for example, an increase of 9 percent.

The last cab rate hike in Haverhill was in 2001. The request will be presented at tonight's City Council meeting by the owners of Family Cab Co. and Courtesy Cab. They say the price of gasoline and other operating expenses is forcing them to seek the increase.

A memo from the companies shows that according to the Consumer Price Index, the value of the dollar has dipped, while the cost of gas has jumped from about $1.55 a gallon in 2001 to nearly $3 in recent months.

Under council rules, the members cannot vote on the proposal for at least 10 days. Tonight's meeting is at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

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