Officials with Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority will hold their first public input session this evening to discuss a possible 40% reduction in service that could result over the next five years if additional funding is not made available. Among the topics to be discussed is whether the Des Moines City Council should pass a franchise fee to fully fund DART or make cuts to services. Tonight’s public input session is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Northwest Community Center, 5110 Franklin Ave., Des Moines. DART’s current operating budget is $42 million, with 62% of revenue coming from property taxes. The rest comes from a combination of federal funding, fares and contracts, state funding and other sources. With so much of its revenue coming from property taxes, DART finds its hands tied because the property tax levy for DART is capped at 95 cents per $1,000 valuation. If additional funding is not found, cuts to service could begin in November 2024. Additional public input opportunities are:

• Dec. 1, from noon to 1 p.m. on Zoom
• Dec. 4, 6 to 7 p.m., East Side Library
• Dec. 6, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., open house at DART Central Station
• Dec. 7, 6 to 7 p.m., DMPS Kurtz Opportunity Center
• Dec. 12, 6 to 7 p.m., Des Moines Area Religious Council

Residents can sign up for a public meeting and take a survey on DART’s website.