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County officials ask Effingham to contribute to expand bus service; cite 65% state match
Summary
County transportation leaders asked the city to consider a municipal contribution to create a south loop of county bus service; officials said each municipal dollar could be matched at 65% by the state and that some municipalities already contribute modest per‑resident amounts.
County transportation leaders asked the Effingham City Council to consider a municipal contribution to expand public transportation countywide and to establish a south loop that would serve more of the city on a set schedule.
Jeremy, who chairs the county's transportation committee, described the program in phases: the county has already subsidized fares for elderly, disabled and veteran riders and established a northern loop. He said municipalities that contribute can increase the county's ability to draw matching funds from the State of Illinois; under current arrangements he cited a 65% state match and said the statutory program could allow drawing toward roughly $740,000 in match money overall. Jeremy said current local ridership on the northern loop is around 30 people per day in that loop and several thousand trips per month countywide.
County Board Chairman Josh Douthat told the council he supports municipal participation, argued the city acts as a mechanism to deliver service for residents who otherwise lack transportation, and noted lobbying efforts that could increase the draw rate in the future. Council asked staff to follow up via email to solicit members' interest and to consider whether any municipal contribution would be short‑term or long‑term.
No commitment was taken at the meeting; staff was asked to survey council members and report back so that the city could decide whether to include a contribution in budgets or to offer a one‑time payment. If the city contributes, the county would use municipal funds to pull down state matching dollars under the applicable program rules.
