COTA seeking tax renewal, plans return to voters
The folks at COTA have their eye on the calendar. Specifically, they’re looking at March of 2017. That’s when COTA stands to lose half of its funding. Not surprisingly, they’d like to avoid that.
Columbus’ bus system draws 40% of its funding from a permanent 0.25% sales tax and another 40% of its funding from a temporary 0.25% percent sales tax. (The remaining 20% comes from rider fares.) That temporary tax was approved by voters in 2006 and is coming to the end of its term.
With that it mind, COTA plans to return to the voters and ask for a renewal in November of 2016. Your favorite transit system and mine believes that putting the issue on the ballot at a time when the most voters turn out (like for a presidential election) increases their chances of passage. If the measure fails, it would likely mean dramatic changes. Riders could expect service to be cut in half.
Meanwhile, COTA’s board on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to purchase twenty new buses. This includes a total of eighteen 35- and 40-foot buses and two 40-foot Bus Rapid Transit coaches. The new buses are expected to be delivered in October of next year. (jj)
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