The Warren County Commissioners have approved funds totaling $53,379 to cover the majority of the local match the Transit Authority of Warren County needs to find the fixed-route program.

The issue was before the commissioners first on Monday during a work session.

TAWC is obligated to provide “matching funds” to the state to draw down a much greater amount of state funds to cover the cost of the system.

“Every year, our local match goes up five percent,” TAWC Executive Director Wendy Hollabaugh said during the work session.

The total match of obligation is over $65,000. Several municipalities contribute funds to that total. TAWC then asks the commissioners for the balance. That year, the total request from the county was $53,379.

See TAWC/ A3

One area the commissioners typically ask about is the contributions from other municipalities and that held true Monday.

Commissioner Ken Klakamp said that Brokentraw, Pine Grove and Mead townships do not contribute to the match.

“(We’ve) reached out to them,” Hollabaugh said. “They’ve always refused us. We can’t get them to respond.”

She added that bus routes – and stops – do go through Mead and Brokenstraw as well as Clarendon Borough.

Commissioner Tricia Durbin asked if TAWC can track ridership by municipality and Hollabaugh said it might be possible.

“Then they can understand how their municipalities are being served by your bus system,” Durbin said, noting that almost 50 percent of the TAWC’s ridership is under the Medical Assistance program.

CHILDREN AND

YOUTH BUDGET

Children and Youth Services Director Meredith Ketcham said the county’s share for this year’s CYS budget is over $1 million.

She said the “big expenses” come from seven placement providers that sought “a huge increase” as well as replacing a vehicle.