The City of Jackson will hold public hearings to determine which JATRAN routes should be cut to offset an unexpected $1.5 million in mandatory wage increases for JATRAN bus drivers.
The public meetings are Thursday, Dec. 16, 6 p.m., at Fresh Start (5210 Manhattan Road) and Friday, Dec. 17, 6 p.m., at Mount Helm Baptist Church (300 E. Church St.).
Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. informed members of the City Council on Nov. 16 that the city will have to shell out $984,000 in back pay, vacation and other costs by January 2011, and include an extra $560,000 in next year's city budget to fund wage increases for the JATRAN's 49 unionized bus drivers and 14 maintenance employees. Johnson proposed to cut routes and lay off 21 JATRAN employees to offset the cost. The council members are expected to vote on the routes and layoffs by the end of the month.
Read "The City Defends Fee Hikes, Lay-offs" for more on the issue.
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