Transportation Funding

            City Council gave the final reading and adoption of the 2013 budget Tuesday. The process of creating the budget began in July. The council adopted the proposed budget, but not before some discussion.

            Greeley resident Steve Teets, who stood up several times during the meeting, expressed concerns about the public works and transportation sections of the budget. Teets had said during the citizen input portion of the meeting that he disapproves of 20% of the city’s transportation budget being spent on the University of Northern Colorado. This was a concern that he reiterated when he stood up during the budget discussion, saying that the red and orange bus lines needed more frequent run times since many citizens use these lines.

            The orange line was found to be high priority, and more funding is being allocated to the orange line during the 2013 budget year. The red line will not receive increased funding during the 2013 budget year.

            City council members do not believe Teets is correct in his assertion that money spent on transportation for UNC is money wasted.

            “He’s lacking all the information and the economic picture of what’s going on with the city, and the next time he comes up here to say that he’ll have me to deal with,” said council member Donna Sapienza.

            “The city does get reimbursement from UNC,” added council member Sandi Elder.