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Deadline Near for Funding Transit System

Posted on: Thursday, 9 March 2006, 21:00 CST

By Nancy Bowman nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com

TROY -- Miami County officials say they need to know in the next month whether the county's three cities are on board with a proposed cost-sharing formula for the new countywide public transit system.

Top administrators in the cities -- Piqua, Troy and Tipp City -- said they are willing to discuss options again, but don't see costsharing as the road that should be taken.

Commissioner Ann Baird said commitments are needed so the county can determine the type of services that can be offered, and seek bids to provide services beginning in 2007 when the Piqua and county systems officially merge. The county this year is handling administration of both systems, but service is provided by different contractors.

"We're hoping the situation will work out smoothly," Baird said.

For years, the county and Piqua had separate public transit programs operated under the federal and state rural transit programs. The county was required to switch to an urban program in 2004 as a result of the 2000 Census, while Piqua received a waiver to continue under the rural program for three years.

Both systems operate on a demand-response basis as opposed to systems that follow fixed routes. The urban transit program requires more local funding than a rural program.

The county commissioners agreed to subsidize the county system during its initial years, but said tight budgets would require contributions from others in the county.

The county in 2004 floated the concept of the county picking up 50 percent of the annual cost with the three cities paying the rest. The four entities were not able to reach an agreement.

A new cost-sharing formula, based on findings of a transit study by The Lakatos Group transportation consultants of Dayton, has been proposed to the three cities, Josh Gearhardt, transit director, told the commissioners Feb. 22. He said he considers the proposed cost sharing a starting point for discussions.

Under the proposal, the county would pay 51 percent of the local share, with the balance to be split between Troy, Piqua and Tipp City. In 2007, for example, the county would pay $234,093; Piqua and Troy, the larger cities, $69,388 each; and Tipp City, $8,858. Smaller communities whose ridership has been making up less than 5 percent of the transit business would be covered by the county unless use in any community goes beyond 5 percent.

The Lakatos Group estimates transit grants of around $450,000 for 2007 along with a $381,728 local share.

Piqua City Manager Fred Enderle said he doesn't see the proposed cost-sharing formula as the most equitable way of funding. Piqua officials think the service is important, but believe it should be provided by the county because the service area crosses jurisdictional boundaries.

Enderle thinks the county sales tax or a property tax would be the most equitable funding method.

Gearhardt said about 1,500 people rely on the service day to day for rides to medical appointments and other needs. Baird said those whose rides are paid for by the Jobs and Family Services Department - - elderly and disabled and job program participants -- would continue to receive service regardless of what happens with the cost- sharing proposal.

The consultants also listed as options a countywide property or sales tax or a "pay to play" program under which service is provided to communities that pay their share.

David Anderson, Troy's service and safety director, said Troy officials agree with other city administrators that transit is a county or regional service, and in most areas is paid through a tax.

"They are pushing and we are saying, 'This isn't the way we think it should go,' " Anderson said.

David Collinsworth, city manager in Tipp City, also has said if the service is valued by county residents, and the county is unable to subsidize it to the level needed, then the taxpayers should be approached.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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