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Transit department outlines $5.62 million budget, seeks service expansions and local match commitments
Summary
Scott Chancey presented a $5,623,238 Transit Department budget that relies on federal and state grants (no county general fund dollars), lists staffing and maintenance arrangements, and proposes route frequency increases, Saturday service and targeted expansions contingent on STIF plan listing and multi-year sustainability.
Scott Chancey presented the Josephine County Transit Department's proposed FY 2026–2027 budget, detailing a $5,623,238 program funded by federal and state grants, contracts, fares and capital sources and noting the plan uses no Josephine County General Fund dollars.
The presentation, delivered with an accompanying PowerPoint (Exhibit 1), listed staffing for the department — 17 full‑time drivers, three part‑time drivers, four full‑time dispatchers, one operations manager and one program manager — and said vehicle maintenance is provided by Josephine County Fleet, which employs four full‑time mechanics whose costs are not included in the Transit Department budget.
Slides reviewed federal and state funding match rules: presenters said federal operating and capital grants require local matches (operating match rates shown between 10.27% and 50% depending on the program), while state funds carry a zero match rate and may be used as match for other grants. The slides also specified that capital projects require a 10.27% local match drawn from nonfederal or program funds.
Chancey outlined three budget goals: efficiency/transparency/public engagement, long‑term financial stability of core services, and strategic investments in safety and infrastructure. Proposed service changes included increasing route frequency to 20–30 minute service on designated corridors, adding Saturday service, expanding west/east Grants Pass coverage, extending service south along Hwy 238 and north on I‑5, and other service innovations. The presentation stated any proposed service improvements must be listed in the approved STIF plan (noted on the slide as a payroll tax) and be sustainable for a minimum of three years.
The Transit five‑year goals slide described a mix of fixed routes, commuter routes, paratransit service and demand‑response options and a grid pattern route design. Ridership figures cited on the slides showed about 135,000 fixed‑route rides annually (approximately 56 passengers per hour systemwide) and about 13,000 ADA paratransit trips (about 1.9 passengers per hour).
Slides also emphasized compliance with federal and state requirements and ongoing coordination with the Special Transportation Advisory Committee. No formal vote was recorded on the Transit budget during the session; committee members discussed funding match implications and long‑term capital replacement planning.
Next steps cited during the session include continued refinement of capital projects in conjunction with available local match and further coordination with the STIF planning process and federal grant requirements.
