Berwick votes ‘no’ to big bus budget hike

BY SARA KEDDY

Kings County Register

It’s a move that’s not going to get them anywhere, but Berwick council defeated the Kings Transit budget April 8.

With a 30 per cent increase for 2008/ 2009 and a share of a $100,000-plus 2007/ 2008 deficit, councillors aren’t happy what Berwick is paying for is what Berwick is getting.

Kings Transit attributes the latest budget’s increases to higher maintenance costs and the addition of two feeder services, one north of Wolfville and the other north of Kentville.

“Berwick wouldn’t benefit at all, and there needs to be a total benefit to the whole run,” Councillor Richard Horsburgh said.

Council did understand the transit authority’s past budgets have not realistically accounted for maintenance costs, and budgets’ bottom lines “didn’t look bad,” Councillor Beth Easson said.

Councillor Anna Ashford Morton agreed, but said “there doesn’t seem to be a big sweat there they’ve sent out big bills. Sharpen your pencils - there are GPS phones and cameras going on the buses.

“It’s a public mandate to support transit, but has it gotten to the point it’s too expensive?”

Berwick’s share of Kings Transit’s 2008/ 2009 operating and capital budgets is $27,247.

Mayor John Prall said Berwick wasn’t a partner in Kings Transit for a number of its early years, and doesn’t have to continue.

“We don’t have people lining up at stops: if there’s two or three, they’re lucky. Can we afford that?”

Calling it perhaps a “Cadillac system,” with multiple routes, a number of buses and a frequent scheduling, Prall wondered if the service needs to be as big as it has become.

“I don’t think we’re going to stop it because of the numbers,” Councillor Mike Trinacty said. “It’s what service are we getting here compared to fuller services elsewhere? I’m satisfied with the service and the role the town has in providing it; we’re not happy with the 30 per cent increase.”

The motion to approve the budget was made by Councillor Gary Whittier and seconded by Deputy Mayor Don Clarke, but all councillors voted against it.

The town is wrapped up in Kings Transit through intermunicipal agreements, so the negative vote is more of a message Berwick wants attention paid to budgeting, levels of service and perhaps even a review of the five per cent share required by Kings Transit. Other service agreements require Berwick to contribute 2.8 per cent.