Background/Discussion
Every year the City of Council Bluffs is required to submit an 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.
Prior to receiving the funding, the City is required to submit to the Iowa DOT Office of Public Transit a notice of public hearing on the use of STA funds for the City’s public transit systems, the Authorizing Resolution for Transit Assistance with the Iowa Department of Transportation, and a copy of city council minutes of the meeting where the public hearing is held.
The State Transit Assistance formula is based on ridership, revenue miles, operating expense and local match.
The Iowa Department of Transportation has indicated that the City will be eligible for an estimated $238,631 in STA payments for FY2022. Currently the 2021 STA payments are anticipated to total approximately $230,000 which was estimated last year at this time to be $222,249. Application for the assistance has been prepared by city staff and must be submitted to the Iowa DOT.
The projected FY2022 budget for transit is $1,873,616 in expenditures and projected revenues of $1,323,921 in transit tax levy, $238,631 in State Transit Assistance, $144,000 from Metro Area Transit in reimbursement, $44,520 in Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Grants (5310), $43,000 in Special Transit Assistance fares and $92,000 in Metro fares.