Submitted By: Tom Duncan
presenter
Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
FORMAL TITLE:
title
Budget Resolution 2027-102 to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget to accept and appropriate funding from the Federal Transit Administration in support of the Ocala Marion County public transit system, SunTran, in the amount of $4,694,694
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable, Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) annually provides the City of Ocala Section 5307 Urban Area Formula Grants to support Ocala's fixed-route bus service, SunTran. The Ocala City Council held a public hearing on Tuesday, January 6, 2025, to review and receive comments on the Federal Fiscal Year 2025 Section 5307 budget in the amount of $4,694,694. The proposed budget includes $714,399 in matching funds from the State of Florida in Transportation Development Credits (TDC), $837,458 in FDOT operating funds, $999,640 in combined city and county local matches, and $220,000 in program income from bus fares, bus passes, and bus advertising.
The grant includes funding for both capital and operating expenses. Major funded activities include rebuilding and rehabilitating two 35-foot bus engines and transmissions; Capital Cost of Contracting and capital ADA costs; increased operating expenses, including fuel and major maintenance repairs; and program-related planning and compliance activities.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
The Section 5307 FTA funds are necessary to maintain and improve SunTran’s transit services. The City of Ocala serves as SunTran's policy board and oversees RATP Dev, the contracted operations and maintenance provider for SunTran.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The FTA 5307 grant of $4,694,694 has been awarded to the City to support capital and operating items for SunTran. The City of Ocala has included $788,775 in its Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget for its share of the local match, and Marion County has included $210,865 in its Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget for its share of the local match. Additionally, the budget includes $220,000 in program income from bus fares, bus passes, and bus advertising.
The 5307 funds will be received in revenue accounts 494-331-000-000-09-33396 for operating and 494-331-000-000-09-33397 for capital and will be expended via multiple accounts in 494-050-450/451-544*.
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
N/A
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with Changes
• Table
• Deny
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BUDGET RESOLUTION 2027-102
A RESOLUTION TO AMEND THE FISCAL YEAR 2026-27 BUDGET TO accept and appropriate funding from the Federal Transit Administration in support of the Ocala Marion County public transit system, SunTran, in the amount of $4,694,694
WHEREAS, the Federal Transit Administration has awarded the City of Ocala Section 5307 Urban Area Formula Grant funds in the amount of $4,694,694; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida is providing $714,399 in Transportation Development Credits as the 20% match to the capital portion of the FTA grant and $837,458 toward the operating match through Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) G3U21; and
WHEREAS, the City of Ocala and Marion County’s local matches and program income derived from bus fares, bus passes, and bus advertising to this grant were appropriated along with State Block Grant Funding (PTGA G3U21) via a separate budget resolution on this same agenda; and
WHEREAS, the funding will support operating and capital expenses for SunTran.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, duly assembled in regular session, amends the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget as outlined below:
SOURCE:
494-331-000-000-09-33396 FTA Mass Transit Bus - Operating $1,837,097
494-331-000-000-09-33397 FTA Mass Transit Bus - Capital $2,857,597
TOTAL $4,694,694
USE:
494-050-450-544-54-31010 SunTran Capital - Professional Services $ 306,376
494-050-450-544-54-34010 SunTran Capital - Other Services $2,071,366
494-050-450-544-54-46010 SunTran Capital - Repair & Maintenance $ 384,855
494-050-450-544-54-52060 SunTran Capital - Equipment $1,000 - $4,999 $ 20,000
494-050-450-544-66-64010 SunTran Capital - Equipment $5,000+ $ 75,000
CAPITAL $2,857,597
494-050-451-544-54-12020 FTA 5307 OP Salaries $ 98,478
494-050-451-544-54-21010 FTA 5307 OP FICA Taxes $ 7,534
494-050-451-544-54-22012 FTA 5307 OP DC Retirement $ 7,878
494-050-451-544-54-23010 FTA 5307 OP Life & Health Insurance $ 13,762
494-050-451-544-54-23030 FTA 5307 OP Long Term Disability $ 354
494-050-451-544-54-24010 FTA 5307 OP Workers’ Compensation $ 110
494-050-451-544-54-31099 FTA 5307 OP Information Technology Allocation $ 9,000
494-050-451-544-54-34010 FTA 5307 OP Other Services $1,350,689
494-050-451-544-54-40010 FTA 5307 OP Travel & Per Diem $ 3,000
494-050-451-544-54-41010 FTA 5307 OP Outside Communication Services $ 9,456
494-050-451-544-54-41099 FTA 5307 OP Ocala Fiber Network Allocation $ 3,960
494-050-451-544-54-41199 FTA 5307 OP 800 MHz Allocation $ 8,322
494-050-451-544-54-43010 FTA 5307 OP Utilities $ 14,000
494-050-451-544-54-45099 FTA 5307 OP Insurance Service Allocation $ 21,558
494-050-451-544-54-46010 FTA 5307 OP Repair & Maintenance $ 11,250
494-050-451-544-54-46012 FTA 5307 OP Facilities Maintenance $ 5,000
494-050-451-544-54-47000 FTA 5307 OP Printing & Binding $ 5,000
494-050-451-544-54-47099 FTA 5307 OP Copier Contract Allocation $ 5,000
494-050-451-544-54-49010 FTA 5307 OP Other Current Charges / Obligations $ 250
494-050-451-544-54-52010 FTA 5307 OP Operating Supplies $ 8,408
494-050-451-544-54-52012 FTA 5307 OP Small Tools $ 2,503
494-050-451-544-54-52020 FTA 5307 OP Fuel $ 206,678
494-050-451-544-54-52045 FTA 5307 OP Subscription Based Software $ 35,657
494-050-451-544-54-52060 FTA 5307 OP Equipment $1,000 - $4,999 $ 5,000
494-050-451-544-54-54010 FTA 5307 OP Dues, Subscriptions, Books $ 1,250
494-050-451-544-54-55010 FTA 5307 OP Training $ 3,000
OPERATING $1,837,097
TOTAL FOR CAPITAL & OPERATING $4,694,694
This resolution adopted this ______ day of ______________________, 2026.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs, City Clerk Ire J. Bethea Sr.
President, Ocala City Council
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton, City Attorney
Reviewed for accounting accuracy & completeness:
By: _________________________________
Peter A. Lee, City Manager