Commissioners went into an in-depth discussion on whether to cut the 2027 Baldwin County Transit Program and not accept the grant proposed during the Sept. 3 board of commissioners' meeting in order to balance the county’s future budget, due to accepting the rollback rate over the recommended 10.02 millage rate.
“This is the 2027 application so it will begin July 1, 2026. It is an application for the next fiscal year. As I said before, the millage rate just adopted (9.76) is for the budget we are currently in so, when considering the budget for 2026, you will need to consider the millage rate for 2026 in order to cover what you budget for that year,” said Assistant County Manager Dawn Hudson. “That time would be good to consider where you want to cut or whether you want to cut at all.”
The transit program has operated in the county for 25 years and the fee to ride is $2 per ride one-way. Commissioner Emily Davis stated it is for the less fortunate or those who may not be able to drive. The budget this year is $250,000 with half to be paid by the grant and half matched by the county.
“The transit is good, but we need more buses in order to make it work efficiently,” said Commissioner Sammy Hall.
“I want us to either add to it to make it efficient or not take the grant. This is the most inefficient program the county operates if you look at the number of riders versus cost.”
County Manager Carlos Tobar stated the transit program reached about 10,000 rides last year and reached two passengers per revenue hour, which is considered “pretty good.”
“This is a worthy service,” argued Commissioner Scott Little. Commissioner Kendrick Butts agreed adding, “They’re spending their money on Local Options Sales Tax (LOST). I see a lot of people in my district and through the community using this service. That tax dollar matters in our community.”
Butts further challenged his fellow commissioners to take a day off and ride the transit to get to know the citizens it serves. In response, Chairman Andrew Strickland cut through conversation to state that his preference to not accept the grant is not out of disrespect for the program’s service but rather to prepare for the county’s deficit.
“My point is simple. We just voted to run this county in the red and now no one wants to do anything responsible to do something about it,” said Strickland. “This is going to be tough (cutting items) so we have to get ready for it.”
Butts and Davis argued the county is not in the red yet and Hudson stated that the rollback rate causes the county $149,00 less than projected in last year’s digest, but “it should be able to be absorbed in this year’s budget.”
“We’re not going to fold it in because we have a deficit,” said Butts. “That puts more money in your (pointing to the citizens in the audience) pocket where you can go back to the community where you can grow our tax digest, increasing our LOST and our SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax).”
At the end of discussion, the grant was approved to fund the program in a 3-2 vote with Strickland and Hall voting against the motion.