New Hanover County budget puts Wave routes at risk

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Historic Courthouse was standing-room-only during the New Hanover County Commission meeting Monday night.

Representatives from groups requesting alterations in the 2013-2014 fiscal year’s proposed budget filled the room, trying to convince commissioners to make room in the county’s budget for their cause.

One of the organizations that had multiple representatives speak on its behalf was Wave Transit.

Wave looks to receive $110,000 less in county funding than it received last year. Leaders say the cut is far more than that, as Wave Transit will lose state and federal leveraging, which they estimate will total close to $1 million.

They say one dollar of county funding yields one dollar in state funding and two dollars in federal funding for operations and eight in federal for capital acquisitions.

The recommended decrease in funding will force Wave to eliminate some routes if the budget is passed.

“There’s a reduction in service of two routes, permanently. It would be the route to Carolina Beach. It’s brand new, its building but it isn’t to the numbers yet, so that one is going to be the first to go. The other one is the northern route because it doesn’t get that many people, but the stops it stops at are crucial,” Dave Scheu, Chairman of the Cape Fear Transportation Authority, said.

Scheu says it’s hard to believe the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners does not understand the need for public transportation.

Commissioners will have a work session on the budget June 13. They hope to adopt the budget June 17.