The Senate’s dealings with 2025 budget appropriations appeared to be over last month. However, Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee Chair Donna Frett-Gregory said she received a “very troubling” letter from Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. on Wednesday. The letter said the Public Works Department needed a $5 million appropriation to subsidize VITRAN operations.
The committee discussed how the “miscommunication” concerning the appropriation came about. Sen. Dwayne DeGraff said the “miscommunication” would not be much of a problem if it was corrected and would not happen again.
Public Works Department Commissioner Derek Gabriel was at the committee meeting Wednesday to justify the request. “The omitted $5 million appropriation from DPW’s 2025 budget is essential for funding VITRAN’s personnel costs, fuel, and supplies necessary for daily operations. Without this funding, VITRAN will face severe financial constraints and be forced to significantly reduce or even cease operations and furlough employees,” he testified.
Spending little time on that discussion, senators used the opportunity to ask Gabriel about VITRAN operations.
Sen. Carla Joseph was concerned about VITRAN doubling the price for paratransit riders from $2 to $4. These rides are for handicapped people, often to dialysis treatment centers, other medical visits and personal care visits. Joseph said many of these people were on a fixed income and could hardly afford another rise in the cost of living.
“Competitor costs for similar services are much higher, up to 20 times higher than the current Paratransit fee,” Gabriel said. He added that VITRAN did not discuss the increase with groups representing the individuals using the service before it was implemented.
Sen. Ray Fonseca took the opportunity to thank DPW for the work it has done repairing the road in Bovoni and encouraged it to continue working on other roads in that estate. In fiscal year 2024, VITRAN gave 44,240 rides to seniors, representing approximately 20 percent of its ridership.
The government has historically funded most of VITRAN’s operations, with federal funds covering less than 30 percent of daily operations.
In addition to Sens. Frett-Gregory, Joseph, DeGraff, and Fonseca, the senators present included Novelle Francis and Marvin Blyden.
