Submitted By: Tom Duncan
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Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
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FORMAL TITLE:
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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
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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 ma...
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