HAMPDEN, Maine — Town councilors will conduct public hearings on their proposal to eliminate Community Connector Saturday bus runs in their town and on the proposed $6.8 million municipal budget during their meeting on Monday night.
The bus hearing is one of two that must be held if the town decides to move forward on the plan as a way to cut the town’s costs.
Last year, several councilors and residents said that while they were sympathetic to those who depend on the bus to get to work or appointments, the Saturday runs were too expensive.
They also said there was no way to tell how many Hampden residents used the service because part of the run is in Bangor.
However, after two required public hearings — one in Hampden and the other in Bangor by Community Connector officials — brought out a handful of residents who said they needed the bus to get to work on Saturdays, the decision was made to keep it in a close 4-3 vote.
Most of the council members who weighed in on the matter during a recent committee meeting expressed the same concerns.
Hampden officials were told last year that measure would save about $28,000, but Community Connector Bus Superintendent Laurie Linscott said last month that that dollar figure actually reflects the Community Connector’s total revenues for the run, which include government subsidies.
She said Hampden’s actual cost is about $16,000 per year.
The route runs between downtown Hampden and the bus transfer hub at Pickering Square in Bangor.
Linscott said last month that it isn’t yet clear how the Bangor portion of the Hampden route would be served on Saturday if Hampden ultimately pulls out.
That would be determined by the Community Connector and the city of Bangor.
Hampden Town Manager Susan Lessard said last month that an earlier version of the proposed 2015-16 municipal budget did not include funding for weekend bus runs. She said, however, that the final version headed to public hearing on Monday does include the funding but that it can be removed should Saturday service be eliminated.
On average, the Saturday Hampden run last year picked up between 95 and 105 fares throughout the day, compared with the weekday average of about 170 fares. It was added in 2011 on a trial basis.
Monday’s council meeting starts at 7 p.m.