POUGHKEEPSIE – The Poughkeepsie Common Council’s refusal to accept a state grant of $313,000 to facilitate the conversion of the city’s bus system to the Dutchess County Loop system has raised the ire of Mayor Robert Rolison.
He budgeted only enough money to operate the city buses through June 30, but some council members want to fund it through the end of the year. Opponents of a merger believe service to city residents will suffer, but Rolison said that is not the case.
“This is the same city council that hasn’t come up with a plan to do anything with transit other than take money from healthcare to keep it running and now they reject additional monies to help with a better system and they don’t want anything to do with it.” Rolison said the ridership numbers for April are in and the city lost another 13,000 fare-paying rides. “I don’t know what this council needs to understand that this system is spiraling downward.”
The common council voted to use surplus employee healthcare funds to keep the buses running. Rolison vetoed that and the council has yet to attempt an override.
A motion to override was made Monday night by Republican Lee Klein, but it was tabled. Council Chairwoman Natasha Cherry said at the time that an override vote is planned for the May 15th council meeting.
