Orlando Sentinel: Bus routes survive budget ax

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Bus routes survive budget ax
Rachael Jackson | Sentinel Staff Writer
July 12, 2008



The bus route that takes commuters from Orange City to Orlando appears safe from Volusia County's budget ax.

Though county officials considered cutting bus service to slice $1.3 million out of the budget -- nearly half to cover rising gas prices -- all the routes were preserved in a recommended $635 million budget released Friday.

After public outcry, County Manager Jim Dinneen decided it was unwise to cut public transit as fuel prices escalated. The I-4 Express has seen major ridership increases, and fares might rise from $2 to $3, county spokesman Dave Byron said.

The proposed budget includes $32 million more than the current year -- a change for Volusia, which cut budgets the past two years -- but it still is very lean, officials said.

"Don't think for a moment this is not a very, very tight budget," Byron said.

The tax rate rose from $4.70 per $1,000 of assessed value to $5.40, but more than half of property owners will see lower tax bills because of Amendment 1, Byron estimated. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/community/news/deltona/orl-volbudget1208jul12,0,7503620.story