Nampa council votes to cut bus funding, eyes library budget reductions
Nampa citizens could face fewer public transit options if the city council moves ahead with proposed budget plans for the coming year.
During a workshop to solidify parts of the budget for the coming fiscal year 2027, which begins October 1, the Nampa City Council voted to completely cut spending for Valley Regional Transit (VRT), the Treasure Valley’s transit service. If approved in the final budget, the change would result in no fixed-route bus service through the city and no general on-demand service, though some specialized on-demand services would remain.
The council also voted to approve the proposed budget for the city’s library for the coming fiscal year. But some council members expressed an interest in keeping the library’s budget level with the current fiscal year budget. Library staff and leadership said that move could necessitate staffing cuts and could result in program cuts and service delays.
In total, the council approved reallocating $1.93 million from several items with the idea that the funding could potentially be put toward public infrastructure projects or public safety.
The council will hold a public hearing on the full budget for fiscal year 2027 on August 17 at 6 p.m. The city plans to publish an updated proposed budget on August 3, and comments submitted in writing through August 12 will be included in the council’s packet for the August 17 public hearing.
Eliminating bus service
Earlier this year, the council asked VRT staff for updated figures on the cost of transit if the agency were to offer a combination of fixed-route service, on-demand service, and rideshares, like Uber, as BoiseDev reported. Uber abruptly canceled a presentation to the council in May, drawing allegations of interference by VRT.
The city is currently served by two fixed bus routes: Route 42 starts at Caldwell’s Happy Day Transit Center and travels south/southeast along Nampa Caldwell Blvd. before heading east to the College of Western Idaho, and then to Boise Towne Square Mall. Similarly, Route 40 starts in Caldwell and travels east, and includes stops in Nampa, before reaching Boise State University.
At the July 15 workshop, the council took votes on three different options. It voted 2-4 against funding on-demand service and funding Route 42, for a combined price tag of $498,522. Council members Natalie Jangula and Dale Reynolds voted in favor.
It then voted 2-4 against funding on-demand service without funding Route 42, for $302,521. Council member Sebastian Griffin and Council President David Bills voted in favor.
Council Member Debbie Skaug then moved to completely cut funding for VRT, which passed 4-2, with Jangula and Reynolds voting against.
VRT CEO Elaine Clegg told BoiseDev that without such funding, residents could expect no general on-demand service, and the two fixed routes would be rerouted to minimize Nampa stops. Riders who are disabled could also face an additional barrier to getting a ride. Currently, if a resident with disabilities is within a quarter mile of a fixed route, they can call to schedule a ride through a service called Access; VRT is required by federal law to schedule the ride within 30 minutes, Clegg said. Without fixed route service in Nampa, Access service will no longer be available, she said.
Riders with disabilities could turn to two remaining on-demand ride services, but Clegg said that they are already at capacity. Beyond Access is another on-demand service for those with disabilities and the elderly, but rides are not guaranteed; VRT will schedule a requested ride if there is a seat available.
“So, really, it impacts the people who ride Access,” Clegg said. “Additionally, other older adults or persons with disabilities who might want to get a ride on Beyond Access to replace the trip that they’ve been taking (with Access) will likely have a difficult time finding a seat available, and the people who are already using Beyond Access may find it more difficult to get a seat because of the increased demand.”
Rides2Wellness is an on-demand service specifically for people to get to medical appointments that is primarily funded by local healthcare providers, Clegg said. Those who ride it can’t be eligible for a ride through Medicaid, she said.
Clegg said that the funding has not truly been removed from the budget yet — if residents share their concerns about losing service, it could persuade some on council to change their minds.
VRT is required to hold a meeting to let residents know about the proposed cuts to service. The meeting is scheduled for August 4 at the Happy Day Transit Center; it will begin with an open house at 3:30 p.m., and a public hearing will take place at 5 p.m., Clegg said, adding that any comments will be shared with the council ahead of its August 17 public hearing.
Library budget could still face cuts
The proposed library budget for fiscal year 2027 is $3.57 million, or about $187,000 higher than the city’s library budget for fiscal year 2026.
The city is proposing a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for all staff. Nampa Chief of Staff Clay Long told the council that if the city did not approve the budget increase for the coming year, the library’s staff would need to consider eliminating positions.
Nampa Library Director Jared Tolman told the council that the library is the third-busiest in the Treasure Valley. Providing less funding would mean funding fewer employees, which could require cutting services and programs.
Council Member Sebastian Griffin expressed concern that fees for patrons who are non-city residents and want to use the library have not increased since 2003. Bills said that city users of the library are subsidizing the cost of non-city users’ usage.
Nampa Library Board Chair Leslie Howard cautioned the council that reducing the library’s budget would impact both city residents and non-resident patrons alike.
“When we cut, if we have to cut staff, that may eliminate story time,” Howard said. “(Residents) play mahjong. The teens come in and use services. If you do your research, you’ll see that there are several programs that are utilized by our public quite heavily. So just please remember that if you choose to cut this budget, you are cutting services to our city residents as well.”
The council voted 3-3 to keep the budget at the levels proposed for 2027, with Mayor Darl Bruner breaking the tie to vote in favor. Skaug, Bills, and Griffin voted in opposition.
Nampa Communications Director Amy Bowman told BoiseDev on Tuesday that the council is still in conversation about setting the budget closer to 2026 levels.