Local bus riders and Jackson City Council members are waiting to see the city’s proposed plan to cut $1.5 million from the public transit system.
Council members said reductions to midday, weekend or unpopular bus routes – as well as a fare increase – are possibilities to rein in JATRAN’s spending.
“We have the plan just about finalized,” said Nina Holbrook, interim director of the city’s economic development and planning department. “We just have to get the mayor to sign off on it and move forward.”
The cut to JATRAN’s budget was approved by the council as part of the 2008-09 budget, which began Oct. 1. The transit system went $1.5 million over its $3.1 million city budget last fiscal year because of unexpected costs, such as high gas prices, as well as poor oversight by the city.
Magnolia Tribune
