The mayor's proposed budget plan would cut $224,000 needed to keep the bus system running at its current level. Public works director Roger Schwartze offered four senarios to cut that much from the transit budget.

1. Combine the High St. East and Southwest routes and eliminate after school Tripper routes

2. Reduce service by two hours per day and eliminate after school Tripper routes

3. Eliminate two additional regular routes and keep after school Tripper routes

4. Reduce service by 2 1/2 hours per day on all routes

The Handi-wheel service would not be affected.

Council members questions if raising fares would help, but Schwartze said fares account for only ten percent of the system's total budget, and many in the crowd told council members they could not afford to pay more. Many told stories of being on a fixed income and facing medical issues and disabilities that keep them from driving.

While they didn't make any decisions, council members were listening for ways to save some of the programs. Councilwoman Carrie Carroll made a motion to put the money back in the budget and not cut the bus system. It was seconded by Larry Henry who agreed the service is too critical to cut at this time. In the end the motion failed as members decided to look at the entire budget situation before deciding what if any cuts would be made to JeffTran

At the next budget hearing August 14th members will consider proposed cuts for JCTV.