WESTON, Wis. (WSAU) -- The religious task force pushing for village funding of the Weston K bus route is not giving up, despite residents voting against it in their latest referendum.
The North-Central Area Congregations Organized to Make an Impact, or NAOMI, is again trying to save the route, asking Weston officials to put $48,000 in the 2015 budget for bus operations. The village voted “No” to paying more in taxes towards the bus line in a November 4th referendum.
According to NAOMI’s letter to the village, 394 paratransit rides were needed in 2013, but those figures do not include how many people rode the fixed-route bus. The group says a lack of available information on the referendum and complex ballot language led to the referendum failure.
NAOMI claims their 1000-home survey before the vote showed many residents were not aware of the referendum but expressed support for public transportation. Only one person spoke against bus service during public hearings.
55% of Weston voters chose not to continue funding the K route.