WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | City leaders hope plan will keep CMRTA buses running

City leaders hope plan will keep CMRTA buses running

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - Good news for those who take the bus: there's a plan that could put millions of dollars into the Columbia Metro Regional Transportation Authority.

The new proposal, driven by Richland County Council for CMRTA, could save the Midlands bus system just as its funding mechanism is running out of gas.

The plan was outlined Friday at Columbia Transit Authority headquarters.

Under the proposal, Richland County will temporarily reinstate a mass transit fee of $10 for each private car or truck and $15 for each commercial vehicle.

The fee would be in place through June 2011.

The county would soften the effect on taxpayers by suspending one percent of the county's two percent hospitality tax, a savings for most county residents.

The city meanwhile would have to come up with an additional $1 million a year over the next two years.

The city's participation is critical, but where will the money come from? The mayor says there's no way to cut a million dollars out of the existing city budget.

"A combination of perhaps a higher vehicle registration fee in the city. A use of existing revenues if state law can be amended to allow it, such as hospitality. And there are federal monies in the house version of the stimulus bill that was introduced yesterday. There's money for mass transit," says Coble.

For its part, the transit authority would increase the cost of bulk and discount passes and cut back on vehicle purchases.

"We're going to do some internal analysis and work with the county and the city and the board of directors, but this is a step in the right direction," says Mitzi Javers of CMRTA.

"I think we can do this plan and I think the city will do their part. And I think we can keep the buses rolling," says Val Hutchinson of the Richland County Council.

"It's exciting. After years, to see people finally hearing 'we've got to do it, how are we going to do it' and come up with a tangible plan that benefits every citizen in the county," says Bob Liming of the Save Our Buses Task Force.

The plan's supporters say further down the road, the county will consider a sales tax referendum that would provide a more permanent solution.

Reported by Jack Kuenzie

Updated by Jeremy Turnage