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Williamsport council approves $1.4 million repayment plan to Federal Transit Administration
Summary
The Williamsport City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing a repayment plan to the Federal Transit Administration for $1,400,000, including an amendment scheduling a $35,000 first installment from legislative contingency on April 15, 2025 and monthly payments thereafter.
Williamsport City Council voted unanimously April 10 to approve a resolution authorizing a repayment plan for $1,400,000 owed to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
Vice President Beiter told the council the vote is meant to let the city continue negotiating with federal authorities and is not an admission of guilt: “We ask that our constituents understand that this is not an admission of guilt by the city,” he said. Beiter said the city has cooperated with audits and requests over nearly five years and will continue to pursue a resolution that lowers the debt value.
Councilmember Franklin moved an amendment to the resolution specifying that the first installment of $35,000 would be paid from legislative contingency on April 15, 2025, and that each installment would be paid on the fifteenth day of each month thereafter; the council adopted that amendment and then approved the main resolution. The roll call recorded six yes votes and no abstentions.
The council and city staff said voting yes preserves the city’s ability to negotiate reductions and pursue a longer-term, amicable settlement while the city continues to work with legal counsel and federal and state representatives.
The vote was 6-0 to adopt the amended repayment resolution. The resolution schedules the city’s repayment timeline but does not change the city’s stated intent to continue legal and legislative engagement regarding the underlying federal investigation.
