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Brainerd committee approves cut to same‑day transit fare from $6 to $5
Summary
The Safety and Public Works Committee approved lowering Brainerd’s same‑day paratransit fare from $6 to $5 after staff analysis showed the operating budget could absorb the change and reserves remain adequate.
The Brainerd Safety and Public Works Committee voted to lower the same‑day transit fare from $6 to $5 while keeping the advance booking fare at $3.
Public Works Director Mike Habegorst told the committee that the department’s annual analysis of 2024 figures supports a $1 reduction in the same‑day fare. “We can safely say that we can reduce our same day fare from $6 to $5,” Habegorst said, adding that the $3 advance-booking fare would remain unchanged.
Habegorst and staff showed a budget summary and said the operating budget and reserves can absorb the change; he said Brainerd would maintain a reserve of $27,000 and that Crow Wing County and Baxter would contribute toward the adjustment as appropriate. Committee members asked whether the change was complaint-driven; Habegorst said the reduction follows the department’s routine year‑end analysis rather than a public complaint campaign.
Committee members and staff also noted the reduction is temporary until next year’s re-evaluation. A councilmember moved to reduce the same‑day fare to $5, a second was recorded, and a voice vote carried the motion.
Staff said the fare change will be revisited annually when the department conducts its routine analysis.
Notes: the motion was approved by voice; the transcript records approval but does not provide a numeric roll-call tally.
