Committee recommends Vernon County end SMRT Bus contribution after 2026

The Vernon County Economic Development Committee voted March 5 to recommend that the County Board discontinue the county’s annual contribution to the SMRT Bus after 2026, citing low ridership and an unbudgeted proposed increase in the county’s share.

Cassandra Hanan summarized a recent SMRT Bus partner meeting in which La Crosse County proposed higher partner contributions; the requested increase for Vernon County would raise the county’s annual contribution from $15,000 to $113,977. Hanan also reported that Emplify Health is no longer contributing to the partnership and that Monroe County has dropped participation. Average daily riders for Vernon County’s yellow route were reported as 11, with an average daily ridership of 29 across all routes. Committee members said the larger, unbudgeted request and low local ridership made continuation difficult to justify.

Tom Weston moved to recommend discontinuing Vernon County’s annual contribution after 2026; Patrick Sullivan seconded. The motion passed 6–1, with Karen Dahl voting no. The committee’s recommendation will go to the County Board of Supervisors for final action and budgeting decisions.