Transit revenues jump

Photo: Castanet file photo

Kelowna's share of regional transit costs will only increase slightly over the life of the current agreement, thanks in large part to a healthy increase in revenues.

Financial analyst Jeremy Hunt told council Kelowna's share of transit revenues have jumped by 6.7 per cent, due mainly to increased ticket sales and passenger passes.

Even with a 1.7 per cent budgeted increase, Kelowna's share of conventional bus service dropped by $174,000.

The city's portion of community transit increased about 12 per cent ($108,000), while custom transit costs are up about 6.5 per cent ($77,000).

"The net increase is approximately $10,000 to the city," said Hunt.

Hunt says increases are due mainly to fixed costs, hourly cost increases, increased fleet maintenance costs and higher lease fees.

The city shares the costs of providing transit service with the other municipal and band jurisdictions within the Central Okanagan.

Those costs are paid based on a percentage of the 235,000 service hours within each area.

Kelowna pays 83.7 per cent of the transit bill and rakes in 82.7 per cent of the revenue.