The Coweta County Board of Commissioners expressed skepticism over a proposal Tuesday morning to provide a public transit system for the county's elderly and handicapped residents.

The proposal, entitled 5311 Paratransit Program, would provide buses for the county's residents most in need of transportation, funded through a series of state and federal grants and county funds.

The commissioners did not doubt that some sort of program is needed, but questioned whether this is the right program.

“I'm well aware that there is a need for medical patients and senior citizens to have a system to take them to get groceries or to the doctor. But we need to be make sure to know what our financial involvement is,” said Commissioner Robert Wood..

Michael Sabine, who oversaw a test program in Lamar County, said the costs to that county were only a couple of hundred dollars a year.

“Your county is a lot larger, so it would probably cost you a couple of thousand after the grant money is provided,” he said.

The program provides a five-year grant for equipment such as buses, but only a one-year renewable grant for operations costs. The operations cost concern Commissioner Vernon “Mutt” Hunter.

“We could start this program and then be left hanging with a program that could cost us $400,000 if the grants aren't renewed,” he said.

If a program was started and then stopped, Commissioner Jim McGuffey said the political shotgun would be pointing at the commissioners and not the state officials.

The commission decided to table further discussion on the issue until firm financial data is provided.

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