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With no input from the citizens of Oro Valley, two Oro Valley employees and two town council members have decided that the Regional Transit Authority should take over the Coyote Run service in 2013. The employees are Greg Cayton, Interim Oro Valley Town Manager, and Amy Ramsey, Oro Valley Town Transit Administrator. The council members are Lou Waters and appointed council person, Steve Solomon.
This was revealed at a Transportation Update Public Hearing last night in Town Council Chambers.
There is no guarantee that the Coyote Run service won't change substantially once it is turned over to RTA. In fact, it is likely that it will change substantially. Once out of the control of Oro Valley, who knows what it will look like?
Certainly, in order for Coyote Run to survive and to be run by the town of Oro Valley, the Town needs to come up with a funding method. Currently, thanks to Council Person Garner, it is funded by the bed tax through June of 2012. After that, there is no funding source.
It is clear to us that only Council Person Garner has any interest in finding this source for our needy citizens so that Oro Valley can continue to run this service. So, turning it over to the RTA is the only resort to assure some funding and some service.
Or said another way: Rather than taking $300,000 out of the public safety budget of $12.5 million to fund Coyote Run, a budget that the Council refused to challenge, the town is willing to throw the transportation needs of our most needy into the hands of others.
Its a pity, really, because Coyote Run does a lot of good.
This is not a "done deal."
We have been told that there will be further public hearings on this before it is presented to council; but with their mind made up, we fear that these hearings will be nothing more than a "charade." Then, the plan will go to Council for approval.
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For those interested, click here to read KOLD's report of the situation. It is the Town's spin on this deal. Essentially they are painting themselves as heroes for Coyote Run.
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