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Gates County transit director outlines fleet, fare and software plans; asks to maintain wages
Summary
Gates County transit (GISS) staff briefed commissioners on operations, citing a positive enterprise fund balance, per-mile billing rates, vehicle replacement needs and a request to maintain recently increased wages to retain drivers.
Patrice, the county'transportation director, told commissioners the county'run transit system operates as an enterprise fund and returned a positive balance last year. She said the service bills agencies a fully allocated rate (currently $1.35 per mile) and that managed-care billing rates can vary; one managed-care payer reimbursed $1.57 per mile.
Patrice said next fiscal-year requests include one replacement vehicle (vehicle No. 34), scheduling software to enable text notifications and tablet-based, paperless data collection, and continued funding for maintenance agreements and software licenses. She said the state establishes replacement intervals and most vehicles are purchased using federal grants secured through the county.
Patrice described recruitment and retention challenges: drivers must pass background checks, drug testing and meet driving-record standards (for example, more than three points or two accidents within three years may disqualify applicants). She said most drivers are part-time and many are retired, and she asked the board to maintain recent wage increases to remain competitive with nearby employers and regional transit agencies.
On fares, Patrice described a fully allocated cost figure of $1.35 per mile for agency billing, and said local rider fares are $2 per in-county trip and $4 for trips to neighboring Hertford County; the transportation office runs both agency-funded and passenger-pay services.
Board members asked about contracting out services, and Patrice said federal Transit Administration restrictions mean vehicles purchased with FTA dollars are for coordinated transportation; contracting private providers requires rigorous insurance and compliance checks, and the county has generally preferred to operate the system.
She also described internal improvements: integrating inspection software with billing and fire-marshal systems and plans for a user-friendly public web page. The department requested a 5% salary increase across staff in planning/zoning/inspections as part of an overall county conversation on cost of living adjustments.
No formal vote occurred on the transit items; commissioners asked staff to provide requested budget line items and documents via email for members who were absent.
