Linn County preliminarily approves $2.3 million budget for Lifts paratransit; officials cite ridership gains and bus lead times

The Linn County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to the Linn County Lifts budget for fiscal year 2026 on Jan. 10, approving total appropriations of $2,304,885 and projected revenues of $1,281,864.

Linn County Lifts Director Carter Baldwin told the board the service provided 33,589 rides in fiscal year 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year, drove about 239,000 miles and averaged roughly 201 rides per day. Baldwin said the service operates door-to-door transportation for eligible seniors and people with disabilities under contracts with the City of Cedar Rapids and with E.C. COG to provide rural transit throughout Linn County.

Baldwin said the FY26 budget is largely unchanged from FY25 except for wage and benefit increases directed by county policy. He told the board the department faces uncertainty in federal pass-through funds from E.C. COG and has used an estimate in the revenue projection. He also noted the department does not own vehicles: buses are provided under contract with the City of Cedar Rapids (15 buses) and through E.C. COG (10 buses).

A local match of about $68,006 is included in the budget to secure two buses anticipated from E.C. COG; Baldwin said the line is a placeholder because lead times for buses range from 18 months to two years and delivery timing is difficult to predict. "It's just kind of a hard thing to anticipate as to when we'll actually receive those buses," Baldwin said.

Board members pressed Baldwin on the source of increased rural ridership. Baldwin said the rise is difficult to pinpoint but credited word-of-mouth and local outreach in smaller communities. He also said the department plans outreach to expand rural ridership and has been working to provide Medicaid rides, which officials hope will help fill midday gaps in service.

The budget document lists a key performance indicator for preventive maintenance on vehicles. Baldwin said the department is required by the Federal Transit Administration to meet an 80% preventive-maintenance target and the program is striving to reach 100% compliance. Baldwin also said recent scheduling and billing software—paid for for five years through E.C. COG funds—has improved reliability and will support future Medicaid billing.

A motion to "approve preliminary approval of the fiscal year 26 total appropriations of $2,304,885 and revenues of $1,281,864" was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. The motion was recorded as approved by voice vote; an individual roll-call tally was not specified in the meeting record.

Board members thanked Lifts staff for service and encouraged continued outreach in rural areas.

What’s next: Officials said final appropriation action will follow the county’s normal budget process and that federal pass-through amounts from E.C. COG and the timing of bus deliveries could affect implementation schedules.