news-record.com

GREENSBORO — People who use Guilford County’s Transportation and Mobility Services to get to school or work would need to find another ride under the county’s latest budget proposal.

The county offers public transportation to qualifying elderly, handicapped and Medicaid recipients, along with people who need rides for school and work.

But in the budget recommendation from County Manager Brenda Jones Fox, only the qualified elderly, handicapped and Medicaid riders could use county transit.

Eliminating work and school riders would save $948,000 from the county’s budget, which translates to about $5 on the tax bill for the owner of a $200,000 home. Work and school riders often use county transportation because they are in areas where city transit doesn’t reach.

The county provided 215,000 trips to riders in 2008. At least 15 percent of those trips were for education or work rides. The standard fare for rides who are not subsidized by Medicare or grants is $1.60, which is subsidized through county funds.

“There will be some voids,” said Commissioner Kay Cashion, who was the county’s liaison to a Piedmont public transportation planning group. “And people who have been depending on this public transportation are going to be faced with finding some other way.”

Myra Thompson, the county’s interim transportation director, did not return phone messages Wednesday.

Guilford County’s budget has been under scrutiny this year as commissioners Chairman Melvin “Skip” Alston has asked Fox to create a budget with no property tax rate increase.

Alston would not comment on the county’s potential transportation cuts. Cashion said changes could come before the budget is settled, possibly in transportation and other areas.

“I think there will be some adjustments in the budget,” she said.

Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com