Cache Creek Council decided to withdraw from the BC Transit agreement it has with Ashcroft and Clinton at its Nov. 26 Council meeting.
Council has been questioning the value of the service since 2007 when the agreement was signed, but escalating costs for maintenance and bus replacement this year, with steadily rising costs for the next several years, made them decide to pull out.
Also influencing their decision is timing: they wanted to make their decision before the end of the year to give their partners, Ashcroft and Clinton, sufficient notice.
“For the value... It’s nice to have a bus available,” said Mayor John Ranta, “but for regular service it’s under utilized and over priced.”
Coun. Herb Hofer felt their decision was premature because the three communities are meeting to discuss the bus on Dec. 11 - the day after Cache Creek’s last Council meeting of the year.
Ranta said Council could change its decision in January if there was positive information at the meeting.
“It would have to be something big,” agreed Coun. Wyatt McMurray. “Earth shattering.”
The service originally cost $10,000 split three ways. By 2015 it could be over $90,000.