Carson City RTC OKs budgets, supplemental requests

The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission approved proposed budgets for four funds at their meeting April 10 including $2.1 million for the Transit Fund, $699,803 for CAMPO, $5.1 million for the Regional Transportation Commission Fund and approximately $6.2 million for the Street Maintenance Fund — all for fiscal year 2025 that starts July 1.

During public comment, some were concerned the RTC was going to cut the transit budget and consequently services to Jump Around Carson, specifically paratransit, but that was not the case.

“We’re not reducing service,” said Carson City Transportation Manager Chris Martinovich. “We have taken a look and seen where we can be more efficient in some of our service areas, and paratransit is one of those areas that we can be a little more efficient.”

Troy Jordan, deputy director of Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, testified he received more than a dozen emails from people concerned about service reductions to JAC. He said DETR provides those with disabilities gainful employment that requires transportation. If JAC services were reduced, it could cost jobs, he said.

“I would just say it’s an invaluable service to people in the disability community, especially those with visual impairments and those with epilepsy because they’re not allowed to drive,” he said.

The vote for budget approvals as a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors was 4-1 with RTC member Lucia Maloney voting no. She argued revenues for the local match needed in the Transit Fund — JAC receives federal funding — were more than $125,000 short. However, Carson City Chief Financial Officer Sheri Russell-Benabou said about $500,000 in undesignated funds in the current fiscal year would be rolled over to 2025.

Martinovich did note the undesignated funds would be used by fiscal year 2027. For this budget cycle, Mayor Lori Bagwell said a portion of the undesignated funds could be put in the ending fund balance of the current fiscal year and moved into the beginning fund balance for next year as the budget process unfolds.

Supervisors will take up the city’s entire tentative budget Thursday before a final budget hearing in May.

Of the four funds reviewed by the RTC April 10, two had no supplemental requests (added costs): the RTC Fund and the CAMPO Fund. The transit budget had two supplemental requests. The first was $25,000 for a one-time increase in professional services for a consultant to assist in long-term planning for JAC. Up to 50 percent of the line item could be federally reimbursed.

The second supplemental request for the Transit Fund was for $62,837 and entailed a 3 percent annual increase from the General Fund for local match ($18,894) and $43,943 to fix an error in the JAC operator contract’s billable revenue hours. First Transit is the city’s bus operator, and a contract amendment will be needed to add fueling and travel time to the billing, not just time buses are in service, according to the request.

The Streets Maintenance Fund for the next fiscal year also contained a $7,908 supplemental request to promote a street technician 3 to senior street technician.

In other action:

• RTC members ditched interim measures, like metering signals, for the existing roundabout at East 5th Street and Fairview Drive, voting unanimously to pursue a full reconstruction instead, contingent on funding.

Interim measures were explored in the face of budgetary constraints for full buildout. In March, the RTC approved seeking $3 million in federal funding through the city’s congressional delegation for the roundabout project.

• RTC members unanimously approved amending a contract with Hansford Economic Consulting to allow an $18,645 increase for a new total not to exceed $114,920.

Hansford was hired in 2021 to explore road-funding solutions as the city faces an estimated $21 million funding gap between revenue (mostly fuels and sales tax) and maintenance needs on an aging road network.

“The amendment’s expanded scope will allow Hansford Consulting to support staff through the completion of the local roads funding project and includes finalization and presentation of all major funding options considered,” according to a staff report.

So far, the city’s efforts to tackle road funding have yielded two ballot proposals including a supplemental government services tax and a new sales tax. If approved by the Board of Supervisors, the proposals would appear on the November ballot.

• RTC members unanimously approved amending an agreement between the RTC and the Nevada Department of Transportation for the West Carson Vulnerable User Pedestrian Safety Improvement Project.

The amendment would add $500,000 in federal funding to the project with a $26,316 increase in the city’s 5 percent local match. It would also extend the life of the agreement to June 30, 2028.

The project entails pedestrian sidewalk and roadway improvements near Carson Middle School and Bordewich Bray Elementary School.