Thursday, April 16, 1998 | 11:30 a.m.
The consolidation would combine separate services now provided by the Ormsby Association for Retarded Citizens, Friends in Service Helping and the Carson City Senior Center.
Paratransit Services, developers of the plan, estimate the consolidation would cost about $403,038 the first year - $140,000 more than its revenues. City officials will seek grants to make up part of the deficit.
"Everyone knows those transit systems don't break even," Mayor Ray Masayko says. "They generally cost a whole lot of taxpayers' money. We have to decide how much of taxpayers' money we can afford to put into this thing."
The costs and how Carson City will fund the program will be evaluated by city supervisors during budget hearings next month.
Masayko said consolidation of various community transit providers should mean reduced costs.
"We ought to be able to increase service levels, which adds to cost savings and efficiencies," he said. "The cost of rides should be going down under consolidation. If it doesn't, I'm going to ask why."
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