Subsidy OK’d for thriving bus line
By Garry Rayno, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Boston Express won a bid to provide commuter bus service between
The company originally won a contract to initiate bus service along the
On Wednesday, the council approved separate contracts for the two routes that provide
With the additional money, the total subsidies in the two contracts will be
The company will be able to use the money for net operating expenses, marketing and customer service, maintenance and improvements to state-owned bus terminals and storage facilities, and to repair and overhaul its aging bus fleet as well as increases in operating expenses with greater ridership such as medical insurance and fuel.
Although there have been discussions about fare hikes along the two routes, company officials said recently there are no plans to increase them.
Along the two routes, Boston Express carried about 580,000 passengers last year.
Contingency fund
The Council approved a contingency fund of
Currently state transportation officials have to find the money within the agency's budget to pay for repairs like those caused by a flash flood or the tornado in 2008.
Clement told the council it took his department three years to make up for the money spent to clean up and make repairs after the tornado.
The money for the fund would come from proceeds left over from
District 3 Councilor
"We're trying to create a small account for emergencies," Clement said. "The money has to come from somewhere."
He said the money would be used for capital costs not operating expenses, noting the request was approved by Administrative Services and the
Managed care contracts
Contracts with the two remaining managed care companies administering the state
The contracts contain new rates for the next fiscal year that were approved by the federal
Although they are three-year contracts, new rates have to be approved each year, according to Health and Human Services Commissioner
The change also reduces the state payments to the companies by
The delay affects long-term services for the elderly and developmentally disabled, such as nursing home and community based services.
Toumpas said while he may be back later to ask for additional money to be added to the managed care contracts, the patients who would have been served will continue in their current fee-for-service programs.
Sununu said he was concerned there was no set date to implement the second phase of the managed care program. "I don't want to be kicking the can down the road for the (developmentally disabled)," Sununu said.
Gov.
"We will have a date with a robust plan," Hassan said.
------
___
(c)2014 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)
Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Wordcount: | 769 |
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News