NEWS RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jill Smith
Office: 661.869.6307
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 10, 2019
Golden Empire Transit Approves $39.1 Million Balanced Budget
Bakersfield, CA — Golden Empire Transit District’s (GET) board of directors approved a budget of $39.1 million for the fiscal year 2019-2020. This achievement is a result of GET’s undertaking to deliver innovative, long-term, and sustainable transportation solutions to the residents of Kern County.
“This balanced budget is a huge milestone in maintaining our annual commitment to the community,” said Karen King, GET’s CEO. “This is a testament to our dedicated Board of Directors.”
The operating budget for the District anticipates revenues and expenses of $33.5 million. Primary sources of revenue include ridership fares, Federal Transit Administration funding, and State of California Transportation Development Act funding. As approved, the District’s capital budget for 2019-2020 of approximately $5.6 million is funded through a combination of federal, state, and local sources.
The budget went into effect July 1, 2019, and includes significant projects such as the following:
- $1.2 million for the Southwest Transit Center renovation
- $750,000 for eight new GET-A-Lift vehicles
- $380,000 for remodel design plans for both the Downtown Transit Center and the Southwest Transit Center
GET was formed in July 1973 and is the primary public transportation provider for the Bakersfield Urbanized Area. It is the largest public transit system within a 110-mile radius. The District’s legal boundary includes Bakersfield city limits as well as adjacent unincorporated areas. GET has a fleet of 90 compressed natural gas buses equipped with wheelchair lifts and bike racks. GET serves 16 routes, operating 7 days a week and transporting more than 6 million passengers each year with its fixed-route buses. In addition, GET operates 21 compressed natural gas GET-A-Lift buses. For more information, visit www.getbus.org or call 869.2GET (2438).
