HATS seeks $100K donation from city

FINDLAY — Findlay is to consider a $100,000 donation to support the purchase of new buses for Hancock Area Transit Service (HATS). Legislation is expected to be introduced to Findlay City Council at its regular meeting on Wednesday to donate. The contribution would made to HHWP Community Action Commission. Council's regular meeting, which is routinely held on Tuesdays, has been rescheduled due to the election. Council will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Findlay Municipal Building, 318 Dorney Plaza. All council meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city's YouTube channel: Findlay Ohio. In a letter to council dated Oct. 15, Mayor Christina Muryn asked to donate the money. She said HATS has a "unique opportunity" to receive over $1 million in federal funding support through the Ohio Department of Transportation. The money would be used to purchase five replacement vehicles for HATS. The funding requires a $264,000 local match. Muryn said The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation is also considering a $100,000 donation and the Hancock County Board of Commissioners is discussing a $64,000 donation. The new buses would meet the existing needs of HATS, and support a future fix-route service, should one be established, Muryn said. "Given prudent management of this past year's capital projects," Muryn said, the city's capital fund has money to donate. HATS has recommended that Findlay move to a fixed-route system. Transportation for the rest of Hancock County by HATS would remain on demand or by appointment. The estimated operating cost of the agency's "preferred" transit alternative would be $2.2 million per year. Capital costs, for bus purchases and bus stop installations, would total an estimated $3.7 million. The federal government would fund 80% of capital expenditures. The rest of the funding would come from state and/or local sources. Federal and state funding would help pay for most of the operating costs, but the plan also would need financial backing from the city of Findlay and/or Hancock County. HATS estimated that federal and state funding would leave a funding gap each year of $432,640, or about 20% of the total, which would have to be paid by the city and/or county. HATS drives people to jobs, medical appointments and shopping destinations. The 68,011 rides it provided in 2023 were 6.4% more than in 2022 and 11.6% more than in 2021. Job-related rides comprised 51% of trips last year, HATS reported. Medical/dialysis appointments accounted for 26%.