From staff reports

The NRoute Transportation Commission is hoping mayor-elect Paul Winfield, who will be sworn in today, will stick with campaign statements in support of the public transit system.

Tuesday, the commission approved its fiscal year 2009-10 budget, which projects $816,000 in total spending and a net operating loss of $237,000.

In light of that, the commission will seek $250,000 from city funds, an increase of nearly $100,000 over what the city is providing this fiscal year.

“I’ve spoken with Paul before and after the election, and he’s said he understands the need for public transportation in this community and intends to support us,” said NRoute Commissioner Mark Buys, who helped Evelyn Bumpers, system director, prepare the spending plan. Winfield’s wife, attorney Malissa Winfield, has been a member of the commission since it was formed.

The commission also approved requesting $50,000 from the Warren County Board of Supervisors. The county board provided NRoute $35,000 annually since its launch in June 2006, but cut that amount back 10 percent this fiscal year.

The city and county are expected to begin budget discussions in the coming weeks as the start of their new fiscal year, Oct. 1, approaches.

Ridership is increasing for NRoute vans, Bumpers said. Still, 90 percent of costs must come from public sources, including state and federal grants, since only 10 percent of the total revenue is garnered through fares. While a host of private sponsors gave one-time donations to NRoute when it was launched three years ago, private support has dried up. The commission is working to secure a contract with an advertising agency to begin making money via ads on buses, bus stops and benches, but projected advertising revenues were not included in the budget.

It’s major expenses are salaries, fuel and maintenance.

The city used a federal grant of $1 million to start the transportation system and purchase a fleet of six vehicles three years ago. NRoute has since expanded to include nine buses and nine routes, and it is no longer an official city department.