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Council hears transit subsidy gap as town pays for Trailblazer and Asheville bus service
Summary
Staff said the town pays both a local mobility (Trailblazer) service and Asheville’s bus route into Black Mountain; the $10 per‑vehicle municipal fee raises about $42,000 but current transit costs exceed that by roughly $8,000, creating a shortfall the town has been covering.
Town staff told the council Black Mountain participates in two transit services: a local mobility provider (Trailblazer/Mountain Mobility) and the city of Asheville’s bus route that runs into town. "You're paying the Black Mountain Trail Blazer Mountain Mobility Services... and you're paying the city of Asheville for the bus," the presenter said, characterizing the combined service as a regional arrangement requiring town participation.
The discussion focused on how the town funds those services. Staff pointed to the additional municipal $10 motor‑vehicle fee (a per‑vehicle provision) that currently brings in about $42,000 a year and noted that revenue is directed toward mobility costs. Council members were told the combined cost of the two services currently exceeds fee revenue by roughly $8,000, requiring the town to supplement operating funds to cover the shortfall.
Members asked for clearer lines showing how the vehicle fee revenue is applied and whether the fee should be adjusted or expenditures reprioritized. Council asked staff to provide a clearer accounting of the contract amounts and to include comparisons to other municipalities’ contributions and tax rates before the next meeting.
No formal decision was taken; staff will return with detailed numbers and comparisons to other municipalities.
