Background/Discussion
Every year the City of Council Bluffs is required to submit an Iowa DOT Authorizing Resolution for State Transit Assistance (STA) for transit operations with the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Joint Participation Agreement to provide Transit Assistance to Iowa’s public transit system.
Before the City receives the Iowa DOT Authorizing Resolution for Transit Assistance with the Iowa Department of Transportation, the City is required to hold a public hearing. The notice must be published at least 30 days ahead of the scheduled public hearing. It is recommended that a public hearing regarding the FY2026 projected STA payments be set for April 21, 2025.
The City is required to submit to the Iowa DOT Office of Public Transit a notice of public hearing, the approved resolution, and a copy of the city council minutes from the meeting where the public hearing is held. Following receipt of this information, the Iowa Department of Transportation will send the Iowa DOT Authorizing Resolution for signature.
The State Transit Assistance formula is based on ridership, revenue miles, operating expense, and local match.
The projection for FY2026 is $285,507 in STA payments.
The projected FY2026 budget for transit is $2,263,600 in expenditures and projected revenues of $1,370,399 in transit tax levy, $285,507 in State Transit Assistance, $87,780 from Metro in reimbursement, $87,500 in Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Grants (5310), $40,000 in Special Transit Assistance fares, and $115,000 in Metro fixed-route fares.