Submitted By: Tom Duncan, Transit Administrator
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Presentation By: Tom Duncan
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Adopt Budget Resolution 2025-104 to amend the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget to accept and appropriate $790,550 in Public Transportation Grant Agreement funds from the Florida Department of Transportation and $796,550 in local matching funds to support the Ocala/Marion County Public Transit System, SunTran, for a total amount of $1,587,100
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Fiscally Sustainable, Operational Excellence
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) annually provides grant funding to communities that will pay operating assistance up to 50% for fixed route public transit systems. On September 17, 2024, the City Council approved a Public Transportation Grant Agreement (PTGA) with FDOT for $790,550. The PTGA requires a local match of at least $790,550.
On September 19, 2023, the City and Marion County adopted a new Interlocal Agreement that established their respective commitments of local funds necessary to operate SunTran. The Agreement states that the percentages of support between the City of Ocala and Marion County may vary yearly based on service changes identified in the Transit Development Plan. Fiscal Year 2024-25 percentages will be 75% for the City of Ocala and 25% for Marion County.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The PTGA and the matching local funding are necessary to operate SunTran. Expenses include but are not limited to, paying RATP Dev to run the daily operations of SunTran, staff salaries for working on the federal and state grants that fund SunTran, fuel for the buses, and utilities for the SunTran Administration & Maintenance Facility.
FISCAL IMPACT: In Fiscal Year 2024-25, the City of Ocala budgeted $597,412 as its local match in account 494-381-000-000-19-38091. Marion County's local match is $199,138. The l...
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