Milwaukee County officials must make up for estimated $10 million budget gap
By Steve Schultze of the Journal Sentinel
An estimated $10 million shortfall in the Milwaukee County Transit System’s 2011 budget is fostering renewed worries about possible route cuts, fare increases or trims to the county’s paratransit service for people with disabilities.
Higher operating costs and expected cuts in federal and state aid are behind the transit budget gap, Anita Gulotta-Connelly, the transit system’s top official, told the County Board’s transportation committee Wednesday. Reduced ridership prompted by the recession and a shift by Milwaukee Public Schools to greater use of private buses to transport students also were blamed for the shortfall.