TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

County Seeks Ways To Fund Ride Service

ADVERTISEMENT

By JULIA FERRANTE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

NEW PORT RICHEY - More residents than ever are calling county officials for rides to doctor appointments, jobs and other necessities they can't get to themselves.

At the same time, costs are rising, and resources are being strained.

Pasco County commissioners will consider increasing fees, shifting resources and moving money to meet demands at a meeting at 10 a.m. today at the West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road.

Under the current way of doing things, Pasco County could provide 180 rides a day, Assistant County Administrator Dan Johnson said in a letter to county commissioners. Trips increased dramatically this year, with a spike from March through June, and 214 average daily trips in October.

The county commission in August agreed to dedicate $26,000 in reserves to cover shortfalls in September, but that was a temporary solution. The county would need about $328,000 more to meet growing needs for the year.

Part of the reason is that the state increased rates for outside providers in July, so the county must pay its contractors more. Johnson suggests moving $96,000 from contract services to the public transportation account, because the county can provide the services at a lower cost.

Johnson also is to ask for fare increases, from 50 cents to $1 for regular trips and from $2 to $4 for paratransit trips as of March 1. That would generate $164,000.

The board also may reduce the allocation for nonprofit agencies.

Commissioners could boost the gas tax, reduce transit service or use contingency funds to make up the difference, but Johnson does not recommend those options.

Reporter Julia Ferrante can be reached at jferrante@tampatrib.com or (813) 948-4220.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT