The Caroline County Board of Commissioners directed staff on April 15 to finalize the county’s proposed FY2026 budget with a $110,000 allocation for Delmarva Community Transit, the county’s rural public transportation provider.

The commissioners acted after a presentation from Andy Hollis, executive director of Delmarva Community Transit, and Henry (transit director), who outlined three funding scenarios originally requested by DCT: the full $157,000 ask, an intermediate $110,000 option and a $90,000 option that would require deeper cuts to routes. Hollis told the board the $110,000 option “gives you your busiest routes” and would reduce service impacts compared with a $90,000 cut.

Commissioners discussed which routes would be cut under smaller allocations. Staff said the county currently supports five county routes; if the county funded only $10,000 (typo for $90,000 in the discussion) the system would lose two routes (identified in testimony as routes 5P and 7) and one mod route identified as Mod 70 would be eliminated. Henry said the Mod 70 morning-to-Afternoon run averaged about five riders on many trips and that some riders are consistent daily commuters to Greensboro.

The board discussed potential funding sources to avoid cutting service. Danny Fox, deputy county administrator, said the county had two potential non‑general‑fund sources to consider: opioid restitution money (which must be tied to mitigation programs) and newly available cannabis excise tax allocations (House Bill 1364), which may permit transportation uses but requires further guidance from the state. Fox said he had reached out to the Office of Statewide Equity to clarify allowable uses. Commissioners agreed finance staff would identify whether those restricted funds could be used; if not, the county will cover the increase from the general fund.

Commissioner Franklin Bartz, Commissioner Larry C. Porter and Commissioner John (J. Travis) Breeding expressed support for the $110,000 level. Bartz noted the riders “don’t have any alternative” and described the service as necessary for work, medical dialysis and shopping trips. Commissioner Ford said he would support the $110,000 request and emphasized the county’s long‑running flat funding level prior to the request.

Deputy administrator Fox and staff said they will update the proposed budget documents to reflect the $110,000 figure and post the public copy ahead of the May 6 public hearing. The board did not take a roll‑call vote; the direction was entered into the record and will be incorporated in the proposed FY2026 budget for formal adoption later in the process.

The DCT presentation also included operational details: the Route 5A morning and evening schedules, transfer points at Feddersburg (spelled Fettlesburg in testimony) and Easton, and an intention to pilot more demand‑response (mod) service inside Denton as a cost‑effective alternative to underused fixed routes.

Staff asked DCT to return with clearer ridership counts after additional outreach and marketing; commissioners emphasized the need to reduce “empty buses” and to improve trip counting so that future funding decisions can be tied to demonstrable ridership.

Next steps: county finance staff will identify funding sources and finalize the proposed budget for the May 6 public hearing; DCT will continue measuring ridership and report back to the board.