Stettler County council received a request for continued funding from the Stettler and District Handibus Society during their March 8 meeting.
The request for funding notes that for 2022 the community bus service carried 4,782 passengers, many of whom were seniors.
Additionally, the request states that the average cost per trip in 2022 was $31.95 and the cost per kilometre was $8, while only charging $6 per trip.
“Most patrons on the bus are senior citizens, and persons with disabilities living on a fixed income (who) cannot access subsidies for transportation,” writes Judy McKnight, program coordinator, in the request letter.
“We feel that patrons cannot afford a higher fare at this time.”
According to the letter, the service began in 1978 with 678 passengers growing since then to what it is today.
The society also ran a medical van, which took people to the city for medical appointments but after 12 years of operation and continual deficits, its operation remained unsustainable and the service was ultimately dropped at the beginning of January 2022.
With the current economic climate, the main handibus is also in a deficit situation with a forecasted shortfall of just under $15,000 for 2023.
“The bottom line is, they are losing money,” said County of Stettler chief administrative officer Yvette Cassidy, when presenting the letter.
Cassidy noted that the deficit could still be a “side-effect of COVID” or have to do with the current elevated fuel prices effecting nearly all sectors.
In the request, the society has anticipated $20,000 in funding from the county; a funding level that the County of Stettler has been at for at least a decade. However, Cassidy says that the society is not asking for an increase, just their usual amount.
“I don’t usually advocate for you to give them extra money,” said Cassidy, before suggesting that council consider the idea.
Coun. Ernie Gendre agreed with Cassidy that it was about time for an increase.
“We’ve been sitting at $20,000 for years, it’s time for an increase,” he stated.
Coun. Justin Stevens had different ideas.
Stevens suggested instead of just increasing the funding, have members from the society come in as a delegation to have a conversation with council about needs and costs.
As the final 2023 budget won’t be finalized until later in the spring, once tax assessment’s are all in, Cassidy noted that increasing the funding could wait.
Stevens motioned to ask the society to appear as a delegation, which was carried. Depending on how big the agenda is, Cassidy noted that they could be asked to attend in either April or May.