News

STARK AREA REGIONAL TRANSIT AUTHORITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING SYSTEM’S BUDGET, SERVICE REDUCTIONS, LAYOFFS

November 20, 2024

Over the past week, the members of SARTA’s Board of Trustees were informed that revenue generated by the system’s .25% sales tax would fall $1 million below the amount projected in the 2024 budget and projecting an additional $1 million shortfall in 2025.

To address the situation while maintaining the highest possible level of transit service, SARTA is taking these actions:  

• Instituting a hiring freeze
• Eliminating all discretionary spending
• Implementing a long-planned restructuring of ProLine, SARTA’s ADA paratransit service,
• Discontinue five routes
  • Late-Night Loops – Rt. 151, 152, 153
  • Success-Express – Rt. 157
  • Community Circulator – Rt. 158
• Preparing to layoff as many as 30 employees in February 2025
• Discussing additional reductions/revisions to transit service

While SARTA is fiscally stable and has $6 million in its reserve fund, we obviously cannot afford to continue to spend more than we collect. That is why we are taking immediate action to deal with the budgetary challenges we now face and will carefully plan for a future that may well include reductions in state and federal support for public transportation. It is important to note that the Board and SARTA’s entire staff remain totally committed to providing the safe, affordable transit service the residents of Stark County want, need, and deserve.

Trustees and CEO Kirt Conrad will discuss this situation during SARTA’s regular Board meeting which will be held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 5:00 PM at SARTA’s main office which is located at 1600 Gateway Boulevard SE in Canton, Ohio. Additional details and an update will be issued following the meeting.