Transit Agency Catching Up on Past Invoices
Manorville Borough Representative Hyatt Hawk made the motion to accept the fiscal year 2015-16 “local match” increased contributions - which figure to be five percent more from the 2014-15 fiscal year. Manorville and Applewold Borough will both pay about $1,000 toward local transportation services, with East Franklin, Ford City, Kittanning, Manor Township, West Kittanning and the county as a whole will pay more.
by Jonathan Weaver
Town and Country Transit board directors approved several financial matters at their board meeting yesterday.
In February, financial committee members met with Financial Manager Lisa Midla, and minutes show that several outstanding past invoices were paid in full.
According to General Manager Patti Lynn Baker, those invoices – including Pittsburgh North Aire Ride, the line of credit and the mortgage payments - began being paid off during the 2013-14 fiscal year, but the latest – to Byers Busing in Vandergrift – was completed in February 2015.
Baker said the completed payments do open some financial flexibility heading into the end of the fiscal year and increasing monthly expenditures – including fuel and healthcare costs.
“We try to be very prudent in what we do with the numbers and try to be very careful with how we spend – we’ve been doing that the last several years. That’s how we were able to pay those things off, Baker said.
“We try to be very judicious in the way we’re spending the public’s money.”
Baker added that Town and Country Transit has not utilized Byers Busing for at least a year-and-a-half.
Finance Committee Chair David Stewart said committee members met last week before the regularly-scheduled meeting. That meeting was rescheduled to yesterday due to lack of a majority of municipality board directors.
In other financial decisions, the municipal board representatives present voted to dedicate a collective-more than $2,000 more as a “local match” to foster State funds via the Consolidated Operating Application.
“We have a mandatory five-percent increase – that’s not based on anything I’m saying, that’s based on the legislation that passed by the State,” Baker said. “In order for us to leverage the operating grant we get from the State – which last year was $546,000 – we need to have local match to secure that money.”
Baker has not been told new financial figures, but told board directors funding could increase or decrease.
Kittanning Borough’s contribution will increase the most – more than $630 to total $13,280 for municipal transportation.
Manorville Borough Representative Hyatt Hawk motioned to approve the “match” increase, with Stewart seconding the motion. The motion unanimously passed with five votes.
With the approval, each board member present received a written contract and a resolution that needs to be returned with dates payment will be made throughout the fiscal year.
The operating application is due by May 8.
Local News | jweaver March 26, 2015
