Transit manager warns of 'fiscal cliff' as Washington County trust and COVID relief funds deplete by 2028
June 19, 2026 | Washington County, Wisconsin
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Charles Compton, transit manager and fleet analyst for Washington County, told the Public Works Committee that the county’s shared-ride taxi service faces a funding shortfall when one-time ARPA and trust funds are exhausted and the local levy will be required to cover the local share for vehicles and operations beginning in 2028.
Compton said Washington County Transit is a subrecipient of Federal Transit Administration formula funds (FTA 53.11) through the state and relies on state statutes (85.20 and 85.21) and a trust fund created with prior carryover to match capital purchases. He said the trust fund used to cover local matching requirements runs out in 2028 and that ARPA funds used to offset the levy for 2026 will be depleted. "This will be depleted this year," he said of the onetime COVID relief funds, and he warned the committee that the county faces a fiscal cliff as those temporary sources sunset.
Compton outlined operational details: the shared-ride taxi contract is provided by a private operator (GoRight Way, contract started in 2026), the county has 30 vehicles (all ADA-accessible except two vans), and vehicle purchases average $75,000–$80,000 each and are typically four per year. He said roughly 86% of ridership self-reports as senior or disabled and that trip purposes are largely employment and medical (about 68%).
Committee members and staff discussed options including raising the levy, raising fares (with possible lower fares for seniors and disabled riders), reducing service hours or seeking partnerships with employers. Staff noted regulatory limits on employer-specific charters for federally funded vehicles and that some employers already partially subsidize rides. A staff member called the shortfall a near-term budget problem: "We've got this fiscal cliff coming inside the transit department," he said.
Compton also reviewed recent service changes (elimination of low-ridership routes, a 2024 fare increase, reduced contract hours) and noted that 2028 will require the levy to fill the gap in capital matching unless alternate revenue is found.
Why it matters: The projected funding gap could force the county to choose among raising property taxes, increasing fares (which may reduce ridership and revenue), or cutting service — each option has trade-offs for elderly and disabled riders who account for the large majority of current trips.
What happens next: staff will continue to bring operational and budget data to the committee for decisions in the coming budget cycle and to prepare for the large FTA review noted by staff.
Compton said Washington County Transit is a subrecipient of Federal Transit Administration formula funds (FTA 53.11) through the state and relies on state statutes (85.20 and 85.21) and a trust fund created with prior carryover to match capital purchases. He said the trust fund used to cover local matching requirements runs out in 2028 and that ARPA funds used to offset the levy for 2026 will be depleted. "This will be depleted this year," he said of the onetime COVID relief funds, and he warned the committee that the county faces a fiscal cliff as those temporary sources sunset.
Compton outlined operational details: the shared-ride taxi contract is provided by a private operator (GoRight Way, contract started in 2026), the county has 30 vehicles (all ADA-accessible except two vans), and vehicle purchases average $75,000–$80,000 each and are typically four per year. He said roughly 86% of ridership self-reports as senior or disabled and that trip purposes are largely employment and medical (about 68%).
Committee members and staff discussed options including raising the levy, raising fares (with possible lower fares for seniors and disabled riders), reducing service hours or seeking partnerships with employers. Staff noted regulatory limits on employer-specific charters for federally funded vehicles and that some employers already partially subsidize rides. A staff member called the shortfall a near-term budget problem: "We've got this fiscal cliff coming inside the transit department," he said.
Compton also reviewed recent service changes (elimination of low-ridership routes, a 2024 fare increase, reduced contract hours) and noted that 2028 will require the levy to fill the gap in capital matching unless alternate revenue is found.
Why it matters: The projected funding gap could force the county to choose among raising property taxes, increasing fares (which may reduce ridership and revenue), or cutting service — each option has trade-offs for elderly and disabled riders who account for the large majority of current trips.
What happens next: staff will continue to bring operational and budget data to the committee for decisions in the coming budget cycle and to prepare for the large FTA review noted by staff.
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