The Denton County Transportation Authority’s fiscal year 2024-25 budget was approved in August with an increase in operating expenses compared to last year’s budget.

The gist

The board of directors approved the budget during an Aug. 22 meeting. It will take effect Oct. 1 with $51.9 million budgeted for expenses and $64.2 million projected in revenue. The board also approved $24.9 million for capital improvement projects and major maintenance.

Budgeted expenses include $12.4 million for bus operations, a 6.1% increase over the FY 2023-24 budget, and $16.3 million for rail operations, about a 1.6% decrease from the previous fiscal year. The agency’s budget for mobility services such as GoZone and Collin County Rides, was set at $13.3 million, about a 1.2% decrease from the previous year.

What else?

The budget also plans for five new job positions, bringing its funded positions total to 142 after the agency absorbed employees from the North Texas Mobility Corporation earlier this summer.

New positions:

• Service design and performance manager
• Project controls specialist
• Human resources manager
• Bus operations supervisor (two positions)

On the other hand, two vacant marketing positions will be eliminated, according to a staff presentation.

Also of note

About $24.9 million has been budgeted for capital improvement and maintenance projects across the DCTA’s transit system. About $3.6 million will be transferred to the DCTA’s capital reserve fund for future maintenance projects.

The remaining funds will be spent on several projects including:

• Purchase of new bus vehicles
• Major rail maintenance
• Fiber optic network improvements
• Implementation of new project management software