Find out facts when it comes to SPOT

I recently wrote a letter that endorsed three of the candidates for Sandpoint City Council. I was contacted with concerts about one of the candidates who has been, apparently, opposed to Sandpoint’s support of the SPOT bus. Because I do not listen to local talk radio, I had not heard about it, so I called the candidate and talked to him.

I found out he has problems with it that I have heard before so I set him straight with my personal opinion and then realized that others may not be aware of these facts either.

You do not pay any tax dollars to the city of Ponderay or Sandpoint for the SPOT bus. The cities appropriate monies raised from a “resort tax” that is charged to people who stay in the hotels and motels of Sandpoint and Ponderay and that is used to obtain matching grant funds from the state for public transportation. It’s our way of getting back some of the expenses of providing other services such as police, medical, fire, streets, parks, etc., that tourists utilize when they spend time here. They help provide you with an alternative form of transportation if you wish to use it. Other monies for the operation come from Schweitzer, Dover, Kootenai, donations and they are now selling ads to local businesses that will be on the inside of the buses. Currently, their board is working with organizations to get covered bus stops at major locations.

Another concern of the candidate’s was the “rider count” reported to the cities. The state requires them to tabulate how many people “board” the bus. It doesn’t matter if they ride it one block or eight miles. Every time you get on a bus, it counts as one rider. They do not have a choice in the matter and it doesn’t make a difference anyway. Who really cares as long as somebody is utilizing the system? If you want to ride the bus, please do. It is not for the lazy and the lame, it is for the public. Enjoy.

RICK LARKIN

Ponderay