As Covid-19 relief funds are depleting and inflation is spiking, the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority is preparing to eliminate multiple bus routes and take other actions to stay within a tighter budget.
This week, the PSTA board will come to a consensus on a recommended millage rate, which will pre-determine the number of routes that will be affected.
The millage rate that funds PSTA comes from a small portion of homeowners’ property taxes. Currently, the millage rate is 0.75 – the maximum rate. Today, homeowners pay $12.81 of their ad valorem taxes to PSTA.
If the existing millage rate remains, PSTA will cut at least 10 of its lowest-ridership routes (depending on the outcome of a public hearing); however, if the millage rate dips to a full rollback rate of roughly 0.67, PSTA will cut over 20 routes and lay off employees.