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Commissioners press for clearer cost breakdowns; study shows a county option just over $1M
Summary
Staff and the consultant discussed funding sources, fares and estimated costs: county-level package in the packet is estimated just above $1,000,000 with projected ~44,000 annual rides; staff reported a 2023 ridership of 9,368 and an annual Sedgwick County transportation budget 'just under $2.1M', with portions from an aging tax fund and an aging grant.
Commissioners sought concrete budget numbers and who would pay for expanded services. County staff (Lindsay) told the meeting that Sedgwick County provided about 9,368 rides in 2023 and that the county transportation budget for the year is "just under $2,100,000," with roughly $300,000 from an aging tax fund and $1,700,000 from an aging grant, according to staff remarks.
Trove confirmed the packet’s Table 5 shows a Sedgwick County option estimated "just north of $1,000,000" in annual cost with an estimated 44,000 rides for that county-level package. Trove also reiterated the study’s funding framework: federal (FTA) and state funds, local jurisdiction matches and fares, noting fares typically cover a small share of operating cost.
"Fares are only gonna cover 15, maybe percent of the overall costs," Trove said, adding it is closer to 11% for Wichita Transit in his recollection. Commissioners asked staff for a clearer breakdown of which funding streams support specific programs and for verification of the numbers presented in the packet.
The transcript also contains an unclear passage where staff mentioned "the general fund itself has about $12,024,000" in the same exchange; that reference was not clarified during the meeting and should be verified by staff.
