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County to pay $1.5 million for bus services next year

By Nick Blank Staff Writer
Posted 9/18/19

CLAY COUNTY – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the county have reached an agreement to pay $1.5 million for the next fiscal year.

The county will pay JTA and Aging True to operate …

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County to pay $1.5 million for bus services next year


Posted

CLAY COUNTY – The Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the county have reached an agreement to pay $1.5 million for the next fiscal year.

The county will pay JTA and Aging True to operate its transportation and senior centers, according to county auditor Mike Price. He said the county paid about $741,000 to the Clay County Council on Aging to operate transportation and senior centers last year.

Price said door-to-door bus service was the expectation the community had grown accustomed to. The Council on Aging was losing between $150,000-$250,000 a year. Price said it owed more than $200,000 in fuel when it shuttered. Aging True was picked to run Clay senior centers by regional senior care agency ElderSource. JTA began service in the county Jan. 1.

The Transportation Disadvantaged services covers trips for people with disabilities, low income and health care-related trips.TD services didn’t experience a lapse in service after the takeover. The services are paid for by the state with the county giving a 10% match. However, as the number of trips decreases, the Transportation Disadvantaged funding decreases.

JTA has restored some regular service with the Red and Blue lines in March, and Magenta line last month.

Price said a solution was a regional transportation provider with taxing authority. Price and commissioners acknowledged that public transportation is usually heavily subsidized.

The county’s final budget hearing is Sept. 24. County commissioners told county manager Howard Wanamaker to negotiate with Aging True.