Nicole RobinsonUW-Eau Claire freshman Erin Nance uses the university bus system to get from Oakridge Hall to lower campus when the weather is bad. While cutting public transit was one of 48 options to reduce the City of Eau Claire’s budget deficit, City Manager Don Norrell said students like Nance will not be left in the rain.
In August, Norrell and Finance Director Rebecca Noland gave City Council the list of 48 service cuts.
“The list itself is just a whole range of potential options,” Norrell said.
He added although cutting the transit system was on the list, there are no plans to get rid of any busses.
Nance, who doesn’t have a car on campus, said she relies on the Eau Claire City Transit to take her places outside UW-Eau Claire.
“It’s a lot easier to get to places like Target … than to find people to give you a ride,” she said.
Vice Chancellor Andrew Soll said the result of cutting the transit system would be felt at the university.
“If they should go ahead with it, there’s not a question it will have an impact,” he said.
He cited increased parking problems and transportation costs as being two possible effects.
Norrell said more discussion will have to take place and research will have to be done to determine what options are most efficient for the city.
Soll said he understands why the city included the transit system on the list.
“I think that when you’re dealing with major budget challenges, it’s important to put everything on the table,” he said.
The City of Eau Claire is dealing with close to a $3 million deficit for 2004, Norrell said.
The price the city pays for the transit system is $800,000 per year, which is a fraction of the total cost.
In order to balance the budget in the future, cuts will have to be made, Norrell said.
The university funds its bus system through a contract with the city. The amount Eau Claire pays represents how often students and faculty use the transit system.
Norrell said the rapport with the university has been positive.
“I know the contract has been good,” she said.
