Milwaukee County Transit may lose school district's business

Bus fare increases or service cuts could force Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) to pull its students off Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses, which would cost the system $6.6 million. In a letter to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Superintendent William Andrekopoulos said MCTS may soon be uncompetitive with yellow school bus providers, and as a result, may lose the district's business. He added that he was aware that it may further contribute to the system's decline, but that his district's top priority is to put its resources in the classroom. Scott Walker, Milwaukee County executive, said because of a budget squeeze he expects transit funding to take a hit next year and that increases and cuts are almost certain to be on the table when he and the county board sit down to debate its 2007 budget, according to the Journal Sentinel report. Since 2000, the county has eliminated 17 bus routes and trimmed many others, increased the adult cash fare 30% and raised weekly passes 33%.