Baker City’s only taxi company is closing on Aug. 31.

Elkhorn Taxi owners David and Stephanie Sanders recently announced the pending closure on their company’s Facebook page, citing ongoing financial losses in the business they started in March 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning.

“We were losing money every month,” Stephanie Sanders said. “We realized we were going to work ourselves to death, so we chose our family.”

The couple have a daughter, Amelia, who was born after they started Elkhorn Taxi.

The Baker City Council regulates taxi companies operating in the city, including setting the rates cab companies can charge, under an ordinance. The council last year approved the Sanderses’ request for a rate increase to $12 for a round trip, prompted by rising gas prices.

But the greater problem, Stephanie Sanders said, is a significant drop in riders.

“We’re down about 45% from last year,” she said.

Sanders said more customers have been sharing rides to split the cost.

Continuing to raise tax fares is not the solution, she said.

“I could say ‘raise the rates’, but the problem is that 90% of the people we serve are low income, they’re on a limited income, senior, disabled, single moms who can’t afford a car or a single dad who can’t,” Sanders said. “A lot of them are on the limited income of some sort. If they can’t afford it, they can’t afford it.”

Besides fuel, Sanders said costs for insurance, cell service and other necessities of the business have increased.

Because of the demands of the business, including around-the-clock availability, the couple pay employees more than the minimum wage.

But with the rider volume declining, that’s no longer sustainable, Sanders said.

They considered selling the business, but given the root issues that are prompting the closure, she doesn’t think that’s feasible. The couple will sell all their vehicles except one that they will use as their personal car.

“Some people thought we were rolling in the dough — of course you have people that think that the rate is already too high,” she said.

Sad to lose connection with clients

Sanders said the closure of the business, which has weathered both the pandemic and record high gas prices, saddens her and her family.

She said they will miss their regular clients, and she worries how the loss of on-demand transportation will affect them.

“We’ve gotten to know and genuinely care about our regular riders, you get to know them on a personal basis, get comfortable and visit,” Sanders said. “One of our regular riders is someone who comes and watches our daughter or comes and stays the weekend.”

She said replacement options might be reduced to services such as Uber or Lyft.

David Sanders has taken a job in the logging industry, and Stephanie will concentrate on raising Amelia.

“We have to do what’s best for our family,” Stephanie Sanders wrote in the closure announcement on the Elkhorn Taxi Facebook, page. “We thank all of our customers for the amazing 3.5 years supporting us, as well as our employees.”

“We’ve gotten to know and genuinely care about our regular riders, you get to know them on a personal basis, get comfortable and visit.”

— Stephanie Sanders, co-owner, Elkhorn Taxi