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SMART Cuts Still Coming

It could have been worse, but still cuts are on the horizon for the SMART transit system, despite of a millage renewal passed Tuesday.

SMART General Manager John Hertel said dropping property values and higher costs will put a big bite in the budget. 

Hertel said that while cuts are necessary, he hopes they can be painless.

"We're already ahead of the game, in some of these respects. We've turned to biodiesel, which is helping us in other respects. We're going to look at other opportunities in which we can make cuts but, at the same time, try to maintain service at the level that people need," he said.

About 40,000 people take SMART buses daily in Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland counties. The system's 640 buses travel about 1,200 miles a day.

Related: SE Mich. Voters Pass SMART Millage

 (Copyright 2010 WWJ Radio.  All Rights Reserved.)

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