Unidentified speaker says free STS fares raised ridership and warns state cuts are shifting costs to St. Mary's County

An unidentified speaker, whose role was not specified, told a local meeting that St. Mary's County's STS transit service has seen higher ridership since the county moved to a free-fare policy and warned that state budget actions are shifting costs to the county.

The speaker said the free-fare policy ‘‘started July 1 of this past year’’ and ‘‘really helped out a lot,’’ citing conversations with riders and staff about rising use of the program. The remarks framed the transit update alongside concerns about state funding transfers that the speaker said are squeezing county budgets.

"We keep losing more and more funding to the state as they pass things down to us," the Unidentified Speaker said, criticizing the governor for claiming to cut spending while shifting responsibilities to local governments. The speaker urged residents to contact their delegates and senators in Annapolis to register opposition to actions that would increase local costs and to recommend tighter state fiscal restraint.

The speaker also urged residents to prepare for short-term hardships from the cold snap, noting higher household heating costs and asking people to check on neighbors and animals. The meeting remarks closed with the speaker saying they had been honored by the Chamber of Commerce with a certificate for "support of St. Mary's County over the past almost 12 years" and thanking the chamber for the recognition.

No formal motions, votes, ordinances or funding amounts were announced during these remarks; the speaker described trends and appeals rather than reporting binding decisions or specifying budget figures.