HAMILTON — The embattled Butler County Regional Transit Authority is starting the new year searching for a new general manager.

        Amy Terango, who has been the agency's general manager for four years, is resigning to become regional manager for Cincinnati-based Professional Transit Management.

        Her departure comes at a time when the transit authority is struggling for long-term survival.

        The transit authority board will either hire a new general manager or contract with a transit-management company, said Sterling Uhler, a board member.

        He acknowledged that the transit system's uncertain future could make it difficult to find good candidates to replace Ms. Terango.

        “We might test the market to find another person approaching Amy's caliber,” Mr. Uhler said. “We may not get the candidate we want. If not, we'll go to a management firm.”

        He said the transit authority would have to resolve possible conflict-of-interest issues before considering hiring the firm Ms. Terango will join on Feb. 1.

        Ms. Terango could not be reached for comment Wednesday. In a statement released by the transit authority, Ms. Terango said she is leaving her job with mixed feelings.

        “This is an extremely difficult decision for me,” she said. “I believe it is the right time for me and for (the transit authority) to move on.”

        With its federal grants expiring last year, the transit authority had hoped to win voter approval for a five-year quarter-cent sales tax increase. That would have generated $8 million a year and would have enabled the agency to restore service cutbacks and add new services.

        But Butler County voters twice rejected the proposal.

        The transit system eliminated the Dial-a-Ride service after the May election defeat and will be reducing its fixed routes on Jan. 14.

        Recent contributions from Hamilton, Fairfield, Oxford, West Chester Township and Miami University's Hamilton campus enabled fixed routes to continue beyond Jan. 1.

        At its peak, the transit system had a monthly ridership of 38,000.

        The county commissioners have earmarked $1.1 million from sales tax revenues for the transit authority. But if a referendum effort to overturn their decision to increase the sales tax is successful, that $1.1 million won't be available.

        Despite the current problems, Mr. Uhler said he is optimistic about the Transit Authority's future.

        “It will be around for a long time, but maybe not on the scale we once hoped for,” he said.

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