City of Kalamazoo residents will be asked to vote on a request for a 0.6 mil levy to support public transportation services in the City on the November 3 ballot.

A millage request for county-wide funding failed last November. After meetings, focus groups and many discussions, a three-part plan was developed to meet the needs of public transportation in a way that was fair to residents of the County, City and transit users.

In part one of the plan, voters county-wide approved a 0.4 mil levy in May, 2009, to support all demand-response services throughout the county as well as regular fixed route bus service traveling outside the City limits.

Part two consists of this millage request to the City of Kalamazoo for public transit services inside the City limits.

Part three is a proposed fare increase requiring users of the public transit system to pay more and share in the increasing costs of public transportation in Kalamazoo.

Voters in Kalamazoo had passed a 1-year millage for 2008. There is no current City of Kalamazoo local support and the System is now operating on limited reserves. In order to receive federal and state money necessary to keep Metro Transit buses running, a local share (millage) is required.

If approved, homeowners will actually pay less than they were in 2008. The owner of a $100,000 home in Kalamazoo would pay $.58 a week to maintain bus service in the City. The 0.6 mil request, together with the 0.4 mil county-wide levy, means Kalamazoo residents would be paying 1.0 mil for public transit services. In 2008, they paid 1.38 mils.

To keep service where they currently are, this millage along with the county-wide millage is necessary.

Kalamazoo Metro Transit did receive $3.1 million in ARRA funding as part of the federal government's Stimulus program. However, this money can only be used for capital purchases such as equipment. It cannot be used to pay for service on the street or to replace needed local funding.

The mission of Kalamazoo Metro Transit is to provide the community with public transportation services that are dependable, convenient, safe, cost effective, and accessible for all.