City Manager Wayne Cauthen’s proposed 2008-2009 KCMO budget cuts many servies to deal with declining revenue brought on by the current recession. One of the big cuts is to the city’s funding of the bus system.  Cauthen is proposing a cut of $7 million, or 15% of the city’s transit funding.  That translates to about 10% of the KC Area Transportation Authority’s total budget.

The cut is due to three things… 1) Declines in the sales tax revenue that funds the bus system, 2) larger reimbursements to TIF projects like the money losing Power & Light Distrit, and 3) diverting transit funding to pay for traffic signals.

The first one is surely understandable, but the last one really hurts.  Voters approved the transit tax under the assumption that it would be used for transit.  Technically the city can spend it on other transportaton projects, but how many people knew that?  The Start didn’t cover #3 in its article, but it is something contained City Manager’s proposed budget.

No word yet on what the funding cut might mean in terms of reduced bus service.  That information is expected in the coming weeks.  Many cities are dealing a combination of transit service cuts and increased fares, and it looks like Kansas City might be joining the list.