Community Transit

Budget & Financial Information

Community Transit budget documents are provided here to give easy access to important information about agency revenues, expenditures and financial status.

2012 Budget In Process

• 2012 Proposed Budget (pdf)

The Community Transit board has begun reviewing the 2012 budget. A public hearing on the budget takes place during the regular board meeting on Nov. 3. Budget adoption is expected at the December board meeting.

Recession Forces Reductions

The economic recession has forced Community Transit to plan reductions to our service as part of  the 2012 budget that will protect the agency’s long-term sustainability.

Community Transit staff developed alternatives that accomplish objectives set by Community Transit's board:

• Reduce service by 20 percent (about 80,000 hours) in February 2012.
• Preserve ridership and maintain geographic coverage.
• Increase productivity (riders per hour of service) and reduce subsidy (cost per passenger).

The Community Transit Board of Directors approved a service plan that will keep most commuter routing to Seattle, with fewer trips, and reconfigure the local service network to preserve trip frequency on higher ridership corridors. This service plan goes into effect on Feb. 20, 2012.

Sales Taxes Support Transit

In Washington state, voter-approved sales taxes are the primary funding source for public transportation.

The residents of Snohomish County have voted for transit on many occasions over our 35-year history. Thanks to that support, Community Transit receives 0.9 percent sales tax revenue within our service district, the maximum authorized for transit agencies under state law. That's 9 cents of every $10 purchase. Sales tax revenues usually account for 65 to 70 percent of Community Transit's operating budget. Due to the recession, sales tax collections have dropped about 20 percent since 2007.

As revenues declined, the agency took steps to balance the budget:

• Raised fares in 2008 and 2010.
• Eliminated Sunday, major holiday and other bus service, totaling a 15 percent cut.
• Cut 103 staff positions, including two executives.
• Delayed bus purchases, new projects and programs.
• Instituted a pay freeze for administrative staff and agreed to by three of four union groups.
• Encouraged the public to "Buy Local for Transit."

Since 2007, Community Transit has saved a $29 million through cost-containment measures. The agency is preparing for another round of service and staff cuts in 2012 to transform the company to make it sustainable for the future.

Financial Documents

• 2011 Budget (pdf)
• 2010 Budget (pdf)
• 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (pdf)
• 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (pdf)
• 2008 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (pdf)