***MEDIA ALERT***

September 23, 2014

HART BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING RECAP
HART Board of Directors Approves FY2015 Budget
The HART Board of Directors in a unanimous vote adopted the FY2015 Operations and Capital Budgets that will take effect October 1, 2014. The vote followed the final budget public hearing, held Monday night at the HART Administrative Office in Ybor City. 

Adopted was a $65.8 million operating budget and a $18,084,814 million capital budget. The $83.8 million operating and capital balanced budget is 3.1 percent lower than the current one and includes cost-saving measures that allow the agency to expand service on five bus routes.

  • The FY2015 budget is based on projected revenue of $65.8 million for operations, which is $2.1 million higher than the current budget.
  • The FY2015 Proposed Operating Budget is $65,813,577, which is $2.1 million higher than the FY2014 Amended Budget and the FY2015 Capital Budget is $18,084, 814, which is $4.7 million less that the FY2014 Amended Budget. 
"HART has accomplished a tremendous amount in 2014, and we are confident we can continue on this road," said HART Board Chairman Councilman Mike Suarez. "Adopting a sustainable budget while investing in quality and innovation will help HART deliver on its promise to its customers and taxpayers."

"Through sound management, strong fiscal stewardship and board policy direction, the FY2015 budget was balanced without reducing service levels or increasing fares, which were two key agency goals," said HART Chief Financial Officer Jeff Seward. "In addition to those two important factors, the new budget allows us to continue building our reserves, which will keep us strong and financially stable in the years to come."
   
FY2015 Budget goals were established based on the reality of available resources, to provide a stable foundation for HART for five years. These budget documents are available at www.goHART.org, under the "Public Meetings" page. 
           

Primary FY2015 Budget Goals:

  • Maintain current service levels and support continued increases in ridership, while providing enhancements to selected existing services based on Transit Development Plan (TDP).
  • Long-term fiscal sustainability will include a plan to migrate the reliance on Federal funds for operations.
  • Prepare HART for future growth.
  • Focus overall on "forward-thinking" innovative programs; making HART an "employer of choice," and reinvesting new revenues.
In other matters, during its regular meeting, which took place after the budget hearing, Ben Edelberg, MetroBee Founder, presented an overview to the HART Board of Directors of the low-cost shared transportation model that would promote multimodal transportation options in the community and enhance HART fixed route services by extending into areas of the county that currently do not have mass public transportation, as well as operating during times or along routes not currently served by the Authority. HART Board members agreed that the presentation was very informative and were impressed with what MetroBee has to offer.  
        
Next Regular Board of Directors Meetings 

 

The HART Regular Board of Directors will take place Monday, November 3, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. at the HART Ybor Office, 1201. E. 7th Ave., in Tampa.   
   
Closed captioning from the monthly HART Board of Directors meetings will be posted within 5 - 8 business days on the Hillsborough Television (HTV) website.

Click here to view video recordings from recent HART Board/Committee meetings. 

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MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION:


Sandra Morrison, HART Public Information Officer, (813) 384-6610, (813) 545-5497 cell, [email protected]