RTC seeks $10 million increase

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 11:40 a.m.

The Regional Transportation Commission, serving Clark County with bus service, is seeking $10 million more for operations for the coming fiscal year beginning July 1.

The budget, if approved at the RTC board's meeting Thursday, would grow from $78 million to $88.2 million, said Terry Cordell, RTC assistant general manager.

One of the big-ticket increases comes from fuel. This year's estimated expenditure of $4.6 million would go to $7.4 million, Cordell said.

"We have the same problems everybody does," he said. "The fuel's killing us."

Gasoline prices nationally and locally have risen as much as 50 percent over the last year.

Cordell said other increases would go to cover increased staffing for air-quality issues and to expand services.

The RTC is one of several local agencies working to bring the area into compliance with federal air-quality mandates.

Three new express routes should be added in the next fiscal year, Cordell said.

Cost-of-living increases for the contract bus drivers and mechanics will cost the agency about $1.5 million more next year, he said.

The agency's budget for capital expenses also would go up in the proposed budget, from $7.2 million to $17.6 million. The capital budget includes $4.5 million to replace 78 paratransit vans used by people with physical disabilities in what will ultimately be a completely new paratransit fleet, Cordell said.

Other capital projects include a major communications upgrade to Citizens Area Transit buses, which also will get automatic vehicle locators for dispatchers. The cost for those projects will be $5.3 million, Cordell said.