LEBANON — Warren County commissioners are slashing their support of a commuter bus service to Cincinnati, but local communities could kick in the cash needed to keep buses running.

        “We recognize that this is a great service to the residents,” Deerfield Township Trustee Bill Morand said.

        Deerfield agreed this week to kick in up to half of the $52,000 shortfall for the 6-year-old service, the latest in Ohio to come under funding pressure. In the past, commissioners have paid $103,000 annually, but they said in a letter to the township, Lebanon and Mason that they can only spend half that in 2002.

        Lebanon City Council was more skeptical of the benefit to its residents Wednesday. Council made no decision, but asked for more information before taking a vote.

        Mason officials said they will consider the request in mid-January.

        “Mason has been very supportive in the past of commuter bus programs,” city spokeswoman Jennifer Trepal noted.

        Metro operates the bus service, which takes about 350 commuters from Paramount's Kings Island to downtown Cincinnati in 10 daily round trips, according to Metro General Manager Paul Jablonski.

        If the service doesn't get enough money, its future could be jeopardized, Mr. Jablonski said.

        “We need the subsidy to provide the service,” he said. “It's going to be a tough budget year for us.”

        Public transportation is in trouble all over the state as the money-losing operations prove an easy target in a slumping economy.

        The Butler County Regional Transit Authority in November lost its bid for a quarter-cent sales tax increase to keep buses running there. Local communities, however, have contributed money to keep the system afloat.

        JobBus — the Metro reverse commute program that brings Cincinnatians to jobs in the suburbs, will be scaled back in Warren and eliminated in Butler because federal funding has dried up, Mr. Jablonski said.

        The program was not that popular anyway, he said, attracting about 50 riders a day for its Warren routes.

        Virtually everyone agrees that's not the case with the Warren-to-downtown line.

        “It is a tremendous value to the county,” Commissioner Larry Crisenbery said.

        Specifically, said rider Mary Morris, the bus service helps combat air pollution and highway congestion, and she doesn't understand why commissioners would reduce funding given all the growth the county is experiencing.

        “If we take the bus service away, we're regressing, not moving forward,” said Ms. Morris, a Great American employee who recently moved from Warren County to Wilmington. She drives to Kings Island every day to catch the bus downtown.

Taft: Making the best of a bad year
Taft on the issues
Thieves who took gifts aroused Christmas spirit
Boy faces adult trial for assault
Friends, relatives mourn slain buddies
Travel lighter during holidays
Donation boosts winter camp
Family of police officer killed in '79 fighting to keep his killer in prison
Green Township hires administrator
High court upholds right to stadium records
Portune backs hotel-tax boost
Sierra Club intends to sue
Tristate A.M. Report
United council passes budget
HOWARD: Some Good News
PULFER: The countdown
Bicentennial Bell casting set
School taking shape in plans
Schools on drawing board
Teacher put on leave until he resigns in March
Warren to cut money for buses
Gypsy moths chomping their way south
Police chased man into his home
Study says urban sprawl reduced
Kentucky News Briefs
Library OKs work on branch project
'Potbellied bandit' suspect charged
Proposals aim to reduce trash
Runway project approved