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GLTC chair urges council to preserve transit reserves, warns against using one‑time funds for ongoing operations
Summary
Cameron, chair of the GLTC board, asked Lynchburg City Council to avoid drawing down transit reserves for ongoing expenses, saying the move would risk service cuts, federal/state matches, and long-term system viability.
Cameron, chair of the Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) board, urged council during the public‑comment period to preserve transit reserve funds and provide stable local funding for operations.
He told council that GLTC’s memorandum of understanding with the city keeps the system legally separate and that reserves exist to protect service continuity during shocks. Cameron said recent budget proposals would draw transit reserves down well below the MOUs minimum and use one‑time funds for ongoing operational costs — a practice he called a "deferred crisis." He warned that cutting service reduces ridership, undermines federal matches and can trigger a downward spiral.
GLTC requested council consider alternatives, including using existing grant opportunities or adjusting the city’s local match rather than depleting reserves. He asked council members to ride the system to better understand user needs and described how service reductions (for example, loss of Sunday service during a driver shortage) had immediate community impact.
Council did not take a direct action on GLTC's request at the meeting; council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff would continue conversations about appropriate funding and reserve policy.
Next steps: GLTC and city staff will continue budget discussions; councilors asked staff for clearer explanations of proposed reserve draws and alternative funding options.
