Commissioners OK transit subsidy

WARREN -- In a move he says is largely symbolic, Trumbull County Commissioner Paul Heltzel voted no Thursday to giving $15,000 to the Niles Trumbull Transit System to subsidize bus routes in the county.
"My stance is, we have 45 sheriff deputies and 60 or so employees laid off, and I don't see spending that money when we have people laid off," said Heltzel, who lives in Niles. "It was a matter of opinion. I didn't think we needed to pay that money."
Because the two other commissioners -- James Tsagaris and Daniel Polivka -- voted yes, the measure was approved.
On Sept. 29, 2004, commissioners approved giving $151,000 to the transit system for the 2004-05 year. An actual amount of $121,328 was given at the time. Another $30,000 was to be given later if the county was in a good enough financial position, explained Anthony Carson Jr., county administrator.
The $15,000 approved Thursday was the first half of the $30,000, he said. Tsagaris said the other $15,000 will probably be paid at year's end.
The county added the collections of two additional sales taxes to its coffers, beginning in the last quarter of this year.
The buses are operated by Community Bus Service under a one-year contract. Rather than operate regular routes, buses are dispatched to people who call ahead of time for rides.