The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
“How long they’ll last, we don’t know”
Mountain Express director Chris Larsen told the Crested Butte Town Council the up-valley transportation organization is in “a little better straits than they were a few years ago, having built up a $400,000 reserve. But he hoped the town would help keep that money in reserve by contributing $3,000 to the Mt. Express budget for runs it’s added throughout the summer to accommodate special events.
“How long [the reserve] will last, we don’t know. I’m sure that we’ll be dipping into it this year, and that’s because our operating grant was reduced by $19,000 last year,” Larsen said. “So far our revenues from both towns are running slightly under budget.”
Larsen mentioned Mountain Express had come to the towns in each of the last three years to ask for additional money, which Crested Butte responded to with a $3,000 grant. He also said his organization gives $7,700 a year to the Bartenders’ Association for the Late Night taxi, which runs on particularly busy nights in the bars. And they’ve run extra buses on 15 occasions in the last year, costing around $10,000, he said.
Councilman Shawn Matusewicz reminded Larsen that each time the Mountain Express has come to the council they were asking for a one-time investment.
“That was our hope, that it would be a one-time deal. But here we are two years later,” Larsen said. “I’d rather not be here asking for this money.”
Councilman Glen Michel, who serves as one of the town’s representatives on the Mountain Express board, lauded the job the buses and drivers do but pointed out the organization’s mission to provide safe and efficient transportation between the communities at the north end of the valley.
“Doesn’t that mission statement include these services and aren’t we already paying for them through the tax?” he asked.
Larsen explained that the added bus routes, often run at the request of the town marshal or other groups, is paid for out of the Mountain Express budget even though they can’t anticipate the additional trips and time in their budgeting process.
“I assumed this service was part of Mountain Express’ charge, without coming and asking for a little more every year,” Michel said. “Where do we draw the line between what’s expected and what’s considered [additional service]?”
But while some of the additional service is provided for events that happen every year, like the Ski Patrol Party and Fat Tire Bike Week, others are less predictable, like the USA Pro Challenge, which didn’t commit until after the Mountain Express budget was set and accounted for more riders than any other special event.
Town Manager Susan Parker told the council they had about $70,000 in their transportation fund after contributing $20,000 to the RTA this year. That money, she said, should be used to improve the transportation infrastructure around town.
“It also goes toward ongoing maintenance—you know, painting, cleaning,” Parker said, “so it’s not just money laying around … I just wanted you to be aware of that.”
In part because of the additional bus routes being run, the Mountain Express is projecting a $23,000 shortfall this year. However, town Finance Director Lois Rozman pointed out that the budget included the $3,000 from each of the municipalities last year, which means Mountain Express could be that much further behind.
Councilman Roland Mason, who also serves as a town representative on the Mountain Express board, said he felt that the service was worth it. “I just feel that for the $3,000, because it’s not part of the regular route, and the regular route and the regular services they provide are definitely part of their charge, these extra things are not scheduled each year, which makes it extremely difficult to budget for.”
Matusewicz said, “Looking down the list of events [being serviced by Mountain Express] … I see a lot of events that we’re already fiscally supporting as a town. We’re already supporting these events in one way and now we’re supporting them in another. To me, it’s an easy decision because the original funds were given with the intent of it being for one year and it was graciously extended for two years. I can’t vote for it.”
Michel said he would address the town’s concerns during the Mountain Express budgeting process and the council voted 4-1 to make the $3,000 contribution.
