Lake County, OH — To continue providing Dial-a-Ride service to senior citizens and riders with disabilities, members of the Laketran Board of Trustees took steps to place a renewal of their existing .25% (one-quarter of one percent) sales and use tax levy on the November ballot. This levy is not a tax increase.  It is the transportation authorities’ primary source of funding—comprising 60% of their annual budget—and critical to Laketran’s ability to provide basic service. 

Since 2009, Laketran has made significant cuts in spending, including instituting agency-wide wage freezes and eliminating local bus route and Dial-a-Ride service after 8:00pm on weeknights, Saturdays and all holidays.

 “Renewing the sales tax levy means that seniors and people with disabilities can continue to rely on Laketran to get to doctor appointments, grocery shopping, and work,” said Board of Trustees President, Kevin Malecek. “With over 750,000 riders each year, our reliable bus service helps students access community colleges, keeps jobs in Lake County and improves the local economy.”

Lake County’s senior citizen population is growing and the need for Laketran’s Dial-a-Ride service will continue to rise. Passing this essential sales tax levy means that the transportation agency can continue to meet their needs for the time being.

 “There is a clear need for reliable transportation,” said Laketran General Manager Ray Jurkowski. “And with our aging population, that is not going to go away.”

 Since first approved in 1988, voters have continuously renewed this levy without a tax increase. Therefore, the board is asking voters to renew the one-quarter of one percent sales tax for a continuing period of time.

 For more information on the Laketran levy renewal, contact Julia Schick, Laketran Director of Marketing and Public Relations at (440) 350-1012.