I am writing in response to Mr. Joiner’s letter (News-Times, July 29):

I find it interesting that Mr. Joiner quotes the annual budget for Island Transit as $26,964,897 and quotes that the operating budget for Skagit Transit is just over $17 million. In the annual budget figure for Island Transit, he did not clarify that the annual budget includes all operating and all capital funds/reserves.

Perhaps Mr. Joiner does not understand that the capital funds listed in the budget are not guaranteed funds. In other words, we are merely hopeful that we will be successful in obtaining those requested capital grant funds. Island Transit can’t even request available state or federal grant funds for transit projects unless they are identified and listed in the annual budget.

The operating budget for Island Transit is just over $10 million for 2009, or $7 million less than Skagit’s. I wish Mr. Joiner would have presented operating budgets for both systems rather than confusing the issues. The readers should have a fair comparison of apples to apples.

Martha M. Rose

Executive Director,

Island Transit