Pasco County residents called for jury duty will get a free pass on the county's bus system under a program approved Tuesday morning.
Commissioners approved the program at the request of court officials, who hope it would improve their ability to recruit juries. Clerk of the Court Paula O'Neil told commissioners that about 60 percent of people summoned for duty aren't able to get transportation to the courthouse.
The new program would include a free pass with each jury summons. The pass would be good only for the period of the person's jury duty.
There are, though, concerns about costs. County officials worry the new program could blow a hole in the bus system's budget as commissioners face another summer of drastic budget-cutting.
Commissioners agreed to run the bus-pass program as a test from April 1 through July 1. When the test wraps up, commissioners hope to get a better idea of how much the program will cost and how it will affect their bottom line.
Kevin Wiatrowski
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