Okaloosa County and its nine municipalities could close the deal on a local public transit co-op in the next few months.
Several local cities have already approved the agreement, and Destin is set to take up the issue in February.
“It’s moving in the right direction,” said Elliot Kampert, growth management director for the county.
The transit co-op was one of several issues discussed recently at a rare daytime workshop for commissioners. The purpose of the meeting, called by Commission Chairman Nathan Boyles, was to identify top priorities that would not significantly alter the county’s 2014-15 budget.
The co-op would replace the current cash-strapped bus system. If created, the co-op’s first order of business would be to determine the financial contributions of each city.
“Sharing the cost is the only way we can make this work,” Commissioner Wayne Harris said. “Right now ... the county property owners are carrying the load and not the people using the system.”
In July 2014, commissioners agreed to keep local fixed-route buses running for one more year. After the 2014-15 fiscal year, cities must chip in on the cost or the service will be cut.
Boyles said he sees the co-op functioning much like the existing library cooperative.
“I think it’s time we solve the problem, fix the issue and move on,” he said. “... I’m optimistic this may be the year we get that done.”