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Columbia’s city council has voted to suspend transportation fares for users of the GoCOMO bus system for the next fiscal year.
City manager De’Carlon Seewood says GoCOMO has the ability to manage expenses with current Columbia transportation sales tax funding and with a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).
The bus system has been operating fare-free since the March 2020 COVID-related emergency declaration. GoCOMO says 43,321 passengers ride the city’s bus system each month.
An approximately $506-million budget has been approved by Columbia’s city council. The council held their third and final public hearing on the budget Monday night before voting.
The budget includes a four percent across-the-board pay raise for city employees, along with a one percent increase for top performers. City manager De’Carlon Seewood has emphasized the importance of the pay increases, saying they’re critical for recruitment and retention. Columbia has about 1,500 municipal employees, which includes about 200 vacancies.
The budget also includes funding for construction of a new fire station near Scott Boulevard and Route K in southwest Columbia, along with money for 12 new firefighters to staff the station. Columbia fire chief Randy White tells 939 the Eagle that nine of the 12 will be permanently assigned to the station, and there will be one firefighter per shift that is essentially a floater.
Chief White notes the land for the new fire station has been obtained.
Monday night is your final opportunity to testify about the Columbia city manager’s proposed $506-million budget. The council will hold their third and final public hearing on the budget this evening at 7, before they vote on it.
City manager De’Carlon Seewood is proposing a four percent across-the-board pay raise for city employees, along with a one percent increase for top performers. Mr. Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that the pay raises are critical for recruitment and retention. The city has about 1,500 employees, which includes about 200 vacancies.
Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget has a strong emphasis on public safety and fire protection. It includes funding for construction of a new fire station near Scott Boulevard and Route K in southwest Columbia, along with money for 12 new firefighters to staff the station. Seewood tells 939 the Eagle that the southern part of Columbia is the fastest-growing part of town. Fire chief Randy White says the land has been obtained. Mr. Seewood’s proposed budget also increases staffing for Columbia Police, including money for a new police sergeant, a crime scene investigator and three airport safety officers.
Mr. Seewood also wants to spend $200,000 to study the city’s GoCOMO bus system. He wants to see the bus system expand to parts of Columbia that it’s not currently serving.
The council must take action tonight, because the city’s fiscal year begins on October 1.
You would be able to continue to ride Columbia’s city buses for free for the next year, under a proposal that will be voted on Monday night by the city council.
City manager De’Carlon Seewood is recommending approval of the ordinance, which would suspend transportation fares for users of GoCOMO for the next fiscal year. Mr. Seewood says GoCOMO has the ability to manage expenses with current transportation sales tax funding and with a Federal Transit Administration (FTA) operating grant.
GoCOMO has been operating fare-free since the March 2020 COVID-related emergency declaration.
The council approved a similar ordinance in September 2021, using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Cares Act funding to pay for it. Those funds have been spent, according to a council report.
Tonight’s council meeting begins at 7.
