Converse city leaders are turning the decision on VIA Metropolitan Transit over to local voters. The City Council has scheduled a ballot measure that will ask residents whether the city should remain in the regional transit system and continue the half‑cent sales tax that finances VIA service.
Why officials are considering a change
Mayor Al Suarez explained that the move is not about eliminating public transportation but about “reorganizing and having a vision of doing it ourselves, for less.” He said the council has been studying the issue for years, looking at revenue needs and comparing VIA ridership costs to the city’s budget.
Current VIA usage in Converse averages about 1,400 outbound rides and 1,500 inbound rides each week, with over 14,000 trips in FY 2025 serving passengers with disabilities. If voters choose to leave VIA, buses could still travel through the city, but would not stop at any of the 37 existing stops, and VIA‑trans rides could not start or end within Converse.
Financial implications
Thomas Marks, VIA’s vice president of government relations, noted that the half‑cent sales tax generates roughly $2.1 million annually, projected to rise to $2.4 million in 2027 and $3 million by 2030. Converse City Manager Stan Farmer said the city hopes to redirect those funds toward “more roads to pave, more public service from fire and police, and park improvements.”
However, the tax revenue cannot be instantly repurposed. State law requires a city that withdraws from a transit authority to settle its share of the authority’s obligations. As of April 2025, Converse owed about $12.9 million to VIA, a figure that may now be between $13 million and $14 million and could take up to seven years to pay off. Until that debt is satisfied, the tax will continue to be collected.
Plans for a replacement service
Farmer indicated the city is developing a lower‑cost, possibly free, replacement transit option for residents. While details are still being finalized, he expressed confidence that a plan will be ready by the election date. He also reassured that the city’s existing fund balances can cover any short‑term costs, meaning police and fire services would not face cuts for at least four years.
Community reaction
Local rider Darrell Brown, who uses VIA frequently, voiced caution. “Keep the dragon you know,” he said, warning against swapping a familiar service for an untested alternative.
Mayor Suarez noted that Converse is the only city in the Northeast Metrocom area still participating in VIA, while a VIA spokesperson highlighted that other municipalities such as Sandy Oaks and Castle Hills have voted to stay in the system, emphasizing the regional benefits of a unified transit network.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
