TEMPERANCE — The Bedford Township Board last week rebuffed a Lake Erie Transit request to place a levy renewal and increase on the May 4 ballot, but the bus system’s general manager said he may return in February to try again.

Mark Jagodzinski, the transit agency’s general manager, wants the renewal of the existing five-year, 0.25-mill tax and adoption of an additional 0.10 mills to continue funding Bedford’s Dial-A-Ride service. The current levy, which generates $273,000 annually, expires at the end of the year.

Board members balked at the May date out of concern the township would incur costs for a special election in a nonelection year, although nobody cited numbers.

The only issue now slated for Bedford’s May 4 ballot is a 1 percent hike in the Michigan sales tax to pay for road repairs and improvements, for which elections costs would be borne by the state. Board members worried that the township would be stuck with additional expenses associated with the transit tax if it were added to the ballot.

Township Supervisor Greg Stewart cast the lone dissent in the board’s 6-1 vote, saying he objects to the township paying costs but says voters should have a choice.

After the board meeting, Mr. Jagodzinski questioned whether any extra cost would be incurred. The Monroe County Clerk’s Office advised him Bedford would have to itemize additional costs beyond what the state pays for personnel, ballots, and other necessities before it could bill Lake Erie Transit for a May tax request. He added that township clerks he consulted couldn’t cite election-related costs not covered by the state.

He said he planned to speak with the transit board and push for a repeat of his May request at the Bedford board’s Feb. 3 meeting.

“I might be back at the February meeting,” he said. “May is our best option.”

Bedford board members said they’d prefer the transit tax go to voters in August or November so the township wouldn’t be assessed for any costs. But Mr. Jagodzinski said the county clerk advised him the township could foot the bill if no other races or issues are on those ballots.

“I’m trying to avoid $15,000 or $20,000 in costs to have an election,” he said.

Lake Erie Transit’s basic $1 bus fare in Bedford doesn’t begin to cover the heavily subsidized service’s $21.74 cost per ride, and seniors, children, and disabled people pay only 50 cents. Passengers use Dial-A-Ride out of necessity rather than convenience, Mr. Jagodzinski said, so a fare increase would impose hardship.

Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-724-6095, or follow him on Twitter @CarlCarlryan17.

First Published January 26, 2015, 5:00 a.m.