ON THE AGENDA: CyRide Trustees Talk Rate Hikes

CyRide's Board of Trustees will discuss increasing rates and cutting service to deal with a $250,000 budget gap at its meeting at 5 p.m. today in the CyRide conference room at 1700 University Blvd.

The municipal bus service's fuel costs and insurance premiums rose unexpectedly, increasing in the current fiscal year.

According to the agenda posted on the Trustees' website, CyRide staff recommends $81,200 in internal savings, increasing fares by as much as 25 percent, extending reduced fares to Medicaid and Medicare recipients and eliminating holiday service and the last trip of the day on the Gold route.

The disabled and others who rely on CyRide cuts to routes and increasing rates would affect their independence during a recent public input meeting. A who said he lives on a limited income said an increase would mean he would skip desserts.