LYNX proposes $222.8M FY26 budget; Seminole County figures hinge on micro‑transit transition

LYNX (Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority), which operates bus and paratransit service in Seminole County and the region, presented a proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget of $222.8 million and outlined alternative scenarios tied to Seminole County’s planned transition to micro‑transit service.

Tiffany Hawkins, speaking for LYNX/Links, and Lenny Antman, chief financial officer, told the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners that the base operating budget assumes maintaining FY25 service levels and includes no fare increase in the base case (a separate fare study was described as under way). They said LYNX has prepared alternative cost models reflecting route changes that Seminole County planners are considering.

Under LYNX’s base request, Seminole County’s total ask was about $16.28 million (covering fixed‑route service, paratransit and SunRail feeder service plus a capital contribution). Staff presented alternative scenarios showing that if transition changes went into effect on Jan. 11, Seminole County’s operating contribution could fall to about $11.6 million (a $4.7 million reduction). If changes started Oct. 1, the county’s contribution could fall to about $9.5 million (a $6.7 million reduction). Links staff emphasized the numbers are model‑based and will change until final service levels and a go‑live date are set.

Antman described LYNX’s FY26 operating budget as $222.8 million (a 5.5% increase year‑over‑year) driven mainly by wage increases (including union contract adjustments), higher purchase‑of‑transportation costs for paratransit, and pension and medical cost increases. He said 73% of operating revenue is expected from local funding partners (LYNX has no dedicated funding stream), 10% from fares, 7% state and 6% federal, with remaining shares from advertising, interest and contracts.

The agency detailed a $188 million capital program for FY26 made possible largely by one‑time grants: an FTA award of $27.6 million to buy 30 CNG fixed‑route buses, a PROTECT grant of $5.8 million and about $3 million in Orange County funds for shelters. LYNX said 92.4% of the capital program for FY26 is federal money, 6.4% local and 1.2% state.

Hawkins and Antman also highlighted local ridership trends within Seminole County: LYNX reported about 7,700 average weekday boardings in Seminole County for FY24 and roughly 2.1 million annual passenger trips (some routes are shared with Orange County), and Access Links paratransit counted about 113,000 trips and 127,000 ridership events in the county. LYNX said 2,400 county residents are currently certified as eligible for Access Links service.

Commissioners asked for clarification on a capital line for shelters the LYNX presentation showed for Seminole County and about whether capital matches and vehicles would be regionally assigned rather than earmarked to one county. LYNX said local capital contributions are matched to grant requirements (many federal grants require local match) and that vehicles are not assigned to specific counties or routes; fleet allocation is managed systemwide by operational need. LYNX staff also said the capital contribution model uses a $3 per service hour methodology for allocating some local capital matches across funding partners and that the county’s capital contribution is not necessarily tied to equipment used only in Seminole County.

The board pressed LYNX on benefit‑plan comparisons and whether plan design changes had been explored to reduce costs. Antman said the agency’s broker did a request‑for‑information comparison between major carriers and that UnitedHealth and Cigna showed comparable costs; he said UnitedHealthcare negotiations are upcoming.

What’s next: LYNX staff said they will continue to refine models as service changes are finalized with Seminole County planning and the selected micro‑transit provider. The board scheduled further budget hearings and asked staff to return with updated figures once a micro‑transit go‑live date and final route plans are available.