To keep Durango Transit running, the Durango City Council might cut service, increase fares and ask voters to reallocate sales taxes.
State and federal grants that have kept the department running likely will fall in 2017 because programs have been restructured or have ended, Transportation and Sustainability director Amber Blake told the council on Tuesday.
The department’s savings could drop to $300,000 by 2020, Blake said. She also laid out options to save money and raise revenue ahead of the council’s retreat on March 18.
Raising bus fares or parking rates wouldn’t solve the shortfalls alone, but could be part of funding puzzle, Blake said.
Neither solution seemed popular with councilors. Sweetie Marbury noted that people who use the trolley may make “less than $25,000 a year.”
Blake also suggested asking voters to reallocate part of the 2005 half-cent tax to support transit and charging developers a one-time transit fee.
The council seemed to open to considering a new use for the half-cent tax, which funds open-space preservation and development and maintenance of parks and trails.
They also seemed to back a $55,000 study to examine the impact of new jobs on a proposed fee hike.
The study would require a council vote.
To cut costs, Blake suggested cutting the route to Mercy Regional Medical Center, Saturday loop bus service or all weekend service.
