FAIRFIELD — Butler County's struggling transit system received a reprieve Monday after City Council voted, 4-3, to spend $85,000 to keep it going.

        With another $85,000 recently pledged by Hamilton City Council, and funding commitments from West Chester Township, Miami University and the city of Oxford, the Butler County Regional Transit Authority will operate at least another year while county officials determine whether they can provide long-term funding.

        Had Fairfield not approved the subsidy, the BCRTA, which offers fixed bus routes and park-and-ride sites and serves about 1,000 riders daily, would have closed.

        The bus system also has a contract with the county's Department of Job and Family Services to provide transportation for people moving from welfare to work.

        “This is good news,” said Fairfield resident Donald Moore, 65. “This will open up more opportunity for those who are unable to drive. They can be more independent.”

        Councilman Mark Scharringhausen recommended council allot the money after BCRTA officials outlined for city employees a financial projection. It shows, Mr. Scharringhausen said, that the public transit agency provides park-and-ride services at a much lower cost than a private agency.

        “From a pure business standpoint, it doesn't make good sense to not go ahead and provide this funding,” he said.

        Councilmen Sterling Uhler, a BCRTA board member; Jeffrey Holtegel; and Erick Cook also voted for the measure. Councilmen Mike Snyder, Ron D'Episanio and Steve Miller did not.

        The three said they could not approve it mostly because county voters in November rejected a sales tax increase to support the transit authority, and Butler County commissioners denied the authority's request for $250,000 in short-term funding.

        The county is considering allocating $1.1 million from a planned sales tax increase to the authority.

        The bus service is trying to avoid closing after being hit by losses in state and federal funding.

        "I just feel it is throwing good money after bad,” Fairfield resident Stephen Barrett, 54, told council. “I just get tired as a taxpayer of continuing to pay for this, continuing to pay for that.”

        In the past three years, Fairfield has given $750,300 to the bus system, which serves about 5 percent of the county's population. That three year-deal expired, and no funds were originally planned for next year.

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