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Fiscal court approves $35,000 annual contribution to River Foothills transit despite falling ridership
Summary
The fiscal court voted to contribute $35,000 annually from the community fund to Kentucky River Foothills transit service; members debated steep ridership declines, the community fund balance and efficiency strategies before approving the contribution by voice vote.
The Clark County Fiscal Court voted to provide $35,000 a year to Kentucky River Foothills to support local transit service, a contribution the presenter said will be matched by Winchester and supplemented with federal grants. John (last name not specified), deputy director for River Foothills, told the court the system’s total annual operating cost exceeds $120,000 and that local partners (city and county) and federal grants together sustain the service. He said Winchester City and Clark County usually split the local share and that his organization was asking the court to continue its annual contribution. Court members pressed for ridership and cost data. One member noted ridership had fallen to less than half of pre‑COVID levels and that the system had been trending downward the last three fiscal years; the member said that trend made it hard to justify an increased county contribution. John acknowledged declines and said the provider is exploring route changes, fewer loops and stop consolidations to improve efficiency and better serve employment centers and essential destinations. A county official raised the community foundation account balance and said the fund stood in the “neighborhood of $30,000,” which prompted concern about committing another payment before the fund is replenished by taxes. River Foothills officials said the agency had reduced some operating costs (less use of larger vehicles, routing changes) and that the city had committed up to $35,000. A motion to approve the $35,000 annual contribution passed on a voice vote. The meeting record shows voices in favor and at least one “nay,” but the transcript did not contain a roll‑call tally. Why it matters: the community fund and county contributions are a primary local support source for the transit provider. Court members said they want to see revised routing and ridership reports and urged a near‑term review of service efficiency before future commitments. What happens next: the court approved the contribution for the year and asked staff and the provider to present ridership data, route‑efficiency options and clearer documentation of community‑fund balances at an early follow‑up meeting.
