Saying that Long Island Bus and Able Ride are vitally important to the welfare of Nassau County and its residents, Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs (D-Woodbury) and members of the Democratic majority are proposing a plan that will save the bus routes.

Democrats are proposing a change to the current funding agreement between the county and Long Island Bus by guaranteeing that the County would maintain a subsidy of $6 M annually in return for the MTA ensuring no routes would be cut.

The budget currently calls for $3.6 for L.I. Bus and the Democrats in the Legislature would have to find an additional $2.4 M.

The proposed change reflects the ongoing concerns of Democratic legislators who have been caught in the crossfire over funding for Long Island Bus and Able Ride, which provides bus service for physically and mentally challenged. Each year, cuts to funding for bus service are on the table, and each year Democratic lawmakers fight to restore part or all of the proposed decrease.

The County Executive's 2004 proposed budget again calls for trimming $4.8 million from the $8.4 million currently provided by Nassau County; $3.8 million for fixed bus routes and $4.5 million for Able Ride. The cuts, as proposed, would reduce or eliminate service along 35 bus routes during the weekdays, 19 routes on Saturdays, and 11 routes on Sunday.

"By guaranteeing $6 million, we are still saving $2.4 million this year and ensuring that the funding will be in place each year moving forward. This is a vital service, not only for individuals who utilize the bus service to get to and from their jobs, school, and other activities, but especially for those who are physically and mentally handicapped and rely on Able Ride for their needs. We can't allow people to fall through the cracks," said Presiding Officer Jacobs.

Nassau County, unlike other counties throughout the state, is in a unique situation as the result of state legislation adopted in 1973 that created Long Island Bus as a public authority under the umbrella of the MTA. The legislation required that MTA provide routes, set fares, develop service standards and undertake responsibility for general operations. Long Island Bus estimates their annual expenses offset by estimates of revenue from fares and state aid, State Transit Operating Assistance, and Mass Transit Operating Assistance. Nassau's subsidy is based on the remaining net operating deficit.

Under the proposed agreement, in order to eliminate the cycle of threats of cuts of service, the county would provide $3 million for fixed bus routes and $3 million for Able Ride in return for a guarantee from Long Island Bus that they it will continue to maintain the current level of services.

Legislator Kevan Abrahams, who represents districts that would be hardest hit by the cuts in service, said the existing funding agreement is very unpredictable. "There is no way to know from one year to the next what the operating deficit will be. With this proposal, the county will always know what it needs to fund and Long Island Bus would always have a predictable funding stream. No one wants to eliminate a service that people depend on. This seems like a perfect solution."