News 12 at 11 o’clock, November 20, 2008

AUGUSTA, Ga.---We were first on air with word some big changes were coming to public transit. The department is more than $1 million in the hole.

Transit director Heyward Johnson is recommending cutting an entire day of services, and that's just the beginning. Johnson is talking Only to News 12's Chris Thomas.

If you plan on riding a city bus anytime soon indications suggest you may want to plan to pay more for less.

"I know it's probably not what riders wanted,” said Public Transit director Heyward Johnson. “But my mandate was to come up with $1.5 million dollars."

The city is slashing transit’s budget by putting the brakes on more than $1.5 million dollars. Johnson says it’s forcing him to park city buses.

"That was the best way to accomplish the goal that we could find and still maintain the proper level of weekday service."

Did you catch that? He said weekday service. The plan is to eliminate Saturday service.

No matter how you look at it the numbers don't add up in your favor. Fares would increase from $1.00 to $1.50 cents. Transfers would go away. That means you pay the increased fee each time you ride the bus. The monthly pass would go up $5.00 from $50 to $55.00.

"I know that change is hard,” said Johnson. “But I had a mandate."

Johnson went on to say, “We haven't had a fare increase since April of 2001."

There is a public hearing set for Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the May Park Community Center. You'll have more than an hour to make your voice heard.