City to consider funding transit system

A proposal on whether to fund North Central Montana Transit appears to be the only issue outstanding in the effort to pass a 2015-16 Havre city budget.

A public hearing on the spending plan will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at City Hall. Council will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, to adopt the budget.

Mayor Tim Solomon said the general thrust of this year’s budget is similar to those in the past. Because of tax limits, the city is constrained about what new programs can be added.

“We’re limited as to what we can do,” he said.

The city will make some equipment purchases so it doesn’t fall behind in maintaining its stock, he said. But there are no major increases or cuts in any of the departments.

Solomon said he has heard concerns from taxpayers who have seen their property assessments rise. They anticipate that their taxes will skyrocket, but Solomon says they need not worry.

The city and council are limited in what taxes they can impose, he said.

When the council gave tentative approval to the budget Aug. 17, the only question raised was about a $15,000 request for funding from the transit system.

Jim Lyons, the transit system’s general manager had asked for the appropriation, citing the decline in federal funding. The city funded the program six years ago, but has not done so since.

Over the years, Lyons said, Blaine County and Fort Belknap Indian Reservation have always contributed money, while Rocky Boy and Montana State University-Northern have frequently contributed funds.

But the transit system allocation was not included in Solomon’s 2015-16 budget, though the mayor left open the door to amending the budget on the council floor.

Council member Pam Hillery said she would do so.

Lyons said the transit system would like to continue providing the service it offers and hopes to expand, but it needs some support.

The bus system’s in-city route is popular, but he is sure it would attract more people if it ran more than once a day.

“We would like to run an hourly service,” he said, “or an on-demand service.”

Lyons said he doesn’t want to start a competition with the taxi service, but would consider some kind of on-call service.

But to expand, he said, the service will need more money.

“We sure would like to be supported by the city,” he said.