County set to decide how to cover START’s $1.5M federal funding hit

START riders who rely on commuter trips, late-night town shuttles, or On-Demand pickups are about to learn whether local government will write a check to keep the current schedule intact. The town-county Joint Board is set to discuss and potentially act on a START budget amendment to cover a $1,500,000 federal funding shortfall for FY27, with staff recommending the gap be covered from the General Fund to maintain current service levels. Special joint meeting agenda

The background is a hard drop in expected federal operating money: START received $4.9 million in FFY26, asked for $5.9 million for FFY27, and was awarded about $3.4 million instead. START budget amendment packet If the Joint Board does not fully backfill the gap, the packet lays out a menu of cuts that would thin out Friday commuter runs, reduce town-shuttle frequency after 8 p.m., and shorten On-Demand hours (plus bigger “additional” cuts like dropping shoulder-season On-Demand). Staff also modeled fare options, including a recommended flat $2 one-way fare on local services and $10 one-way on commuter routes, but warned fare forecasts are estimates and riders could drop off if prices jump.