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Franklin Transit projects ridership growth and leans on federal grants as city subsidy rises
Summary
Transit presenters told the Budget & Finance Committee ridership is up 7–8% (about 100,000 passengers projected) and outlined a FY27 request that relies on federal operating grants to offset a modest 6.5% budget increase and a 6.3% higher city subsidy after pandemic funds were depleted.
Franklin Transit Authority representatives presented the agency’s FY27 budget to the Franklin City Budget & Finance Committee on March 5, reporting ridership growth and a modest overall budget increase.
Debbie, joined by TMA COO John Stanton Higs and CFO Kelly Bear, said systemwide ridership is trending up 7–8%, equivalent to roughly 100,000 passengers in the coming year, with the largest increases on the transit-on-demand service known as "Todd." The authority has procured three new vehicles this fiscal year and is developing a 10-year transit master plan to guide capital investment and service delivery; staff said the plan will be presented to Bulma in spring and approved by the Transit Authority in June 2026.
CFO Kelly Bear said the transit fund request totals about $5,667,214 and that roughly 66.3% of revenue is expected from federal and state grants. The overall request is a 6.5% increase over the current year, while the city subsidy is up about 6.3% because pandemic-era funds that previously reduced local matching needs are depleted. Bear said federal operating grant dollars are available now and will be used to offset much of the increase.
Committee members pressed staff on insurance and matching rules. A committee member identified as Michael asked for more detail on the request to increase umbrella insurance coverage; staff said risk recommended increasing umbrella insurance from roughly $5.5 million to $9 million to protect against catastrophic loss. Staff also described the typical 80/10/10 federal/state/city matching split for capital replacement vehicles, meaning the city’s 10% share purchases an asset with significantly larger federal support.
Staff told the committee that the budget includes payroll and benefit inflation, security and building maintenance related to a move to a new fleet facility, and marketing tied to the upcoming transit study. The transit authority approved the budget unanimously on Feb. 3, 2026.
The committee did not take an adoption vote for the transit budget at this meeting; staff indicated the master plan and vehicle procurement timelines and the proposed insurance increase would factor into upcoming budget deliberations.
