SARTA interim CEO urges Canton voters to back Issue 4 to fund local transit

Ralph Lee, interim CEO of SARTA, addressed Canton City Council to ask for support of Issue 4, a proposed 0.1% sales-tax levy he said would fund restored transit services, local matching dollars for federal bus grants and new service types.

Lee told the council that the levy is a sales tax rather than a property tax and offered a concrete example of the household impact: "about 2¢ more on $20." He said SARTA's fleet averages seven to nine years old and that federal bus grants typically require a roughly 20% local match, putting a new bus cost in the range of $700,000 to $900,000 and making local funds essential to replacing worn vehicles.

Lee also described a planned “d2d” (destination-to-destination) service—an on-demand model similar to ride-hail pilots elsewhere—and said SARTA has begun testing the service in Canal Fulton. "To tax the underserved is not the thing to do in this situation," he said, arguing a levy is preferable to fare increases that would burden riders.

The presentation emphasized that the levy would restore services cut in recent years, support staffing and allow SARTA to pursue grant matches for bus purchases. Lee closed by asking council and the community to vote yes on Issue 4.

The council did not take a vote on Issue 4 at the meeting; Lee’s remarks were delivered during the agenda's presentations.