Select Board Caps LIFT Ride Budget at $250,000

Select Board · Meeting of April 27, 2026

Burlington Select Board capped the town's LIFT ride-share subsidy budget at $250,000 after ridership nearly tripled. Town Administrator John Danizio told the board LIFT ridership grew from 80 riders taking 1,600 rides a month two years ago to 200 riders taking 4,200 rides now, forcing the board to abandon an earlier $400,000 funding plan and instead lower monthly ride caps for seniors, disabled residents and low-income participants. Vice Chairman Sarah Cawley called the trend unsustainable, saying "that kind of growth, we cannot be doing that," noting ridership had risen every month since July 2023.

The board also voted 5-0 to approve $332,400 in additional snow and ice funding, 5-0 for an all-way stop at Donald Road and Hart Street, and advanced warrant articles including $1,327,400 in zero-interest borrowing for lead water-line testing and a new water and sewer enterprise fund ahead of May's town meeting.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Burlington's community access TV: Select Board meeting, April 27, 2026
• The complete report: 1,169 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of April 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.