Testimony heard on free youth pass program - KPTV - FOX 12
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It's a battle over how to pay for Portland's student Trimet pass.
Mayor Sam Adams is going head to head with Trimet over the Free Youth Pass program.
Trimet officials said it didn't budget for the program, but Adams said he had made a deal with Trimet that would have kept the program in place.
The issue is now going to the city council, which heard testimony from dozens of students and recent graduates who have used the youth pass over the years.
Instead of making any decisions on the issue, the city council plans to continue the discussion on the matter on July 25.
"Over the past year the youth pass has been extremely fundamental and beneficial for getting me to and from school," said one student who addressed the council members.
Adams released a video on Wednesday showing one student who relies on the pass to get around town.
The mayor also sent a letter asking the city council to increase the minimum fee that Trimet pays for benches and shelters on city property by 8,000 percent.
The mayor is proposing increasing the fee from the current $20 a year to more than $1,600 so that the money could pay for the youth pass program.
Trimet said it can't afford that.
During the city council meeting on Wednesday, dozens of supporters told the city council that many of them wouldn't have been able to get through the school year without the youth pass.
"A lot of these students can't afford to do these things in their lives, and have extracurricular activities like play sports or have jobs. Even taking care of their brother or sisters would be difficult without the help of a youth pass," said one student.
Trimet's general manager sent a letter to the city council asking them to hold off any votes.
The agency said the youth pass program was previously funded by business energy tax credits but that lawmakers have since cut that funding.
Trimet said it can't afford to pay any more for those benches and shelters because it's already had to raise fares and cut services in order to close a $12 million budget shortfall.
The city council will pick up this item again on July 25.
Copyright 2012 KPTV (Meredith Corporation.) All rights reserved.
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