Carbon County is hoping that the state will allow block grant money that was earmarked for county operations this year to be pushed into the next fiscal year to help offset the rate increase on the county’s transit program.

On Thursday, Commissioner Chris Lukasevich said that the board had a conversation with the county Area Agency on Aging and asked about seeing if those block grants funds, which come from the Pennsylvania Lottery, could be pushed back a year since the county currently isn’t using the money as it normally would have before the pandemic.

If it is allowed, then the county hopes to offset the 90-cent fare increase that is expected to go into effect in July, on Carbon County Community Transit shared rides, with that money next year.

Lukasevich said that right now, the shared ride program ridership is down about 65% because people aren’t traveling as much due to the pandemic.

In other county financial matters, Lukasevich reported that a rough analysis comparing county property tax revenue received to date compared to the first few months of 2019 is only down by 2%, or about $63,000. This does take into account the tax increase that went into effect this year. These figures represent money received in the discount period.

“We’re in pretty good shape,” Lukasevich said, but noted that the concerning period, which is the base period, is yet to come.