Decision 2026 | Cabell County and Huntington TTA levies, explained

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Voters in Cabell County will vote on levy to help fund the Tri-State Transit Authority, or TTA. And right next to the county-wide levy, voters in Huntington will also see a second, separate ballot for the TTA.

But the TTA’s CEO Paul Davis said that Cabell County’s public transit system can’t function without both of them.

“TTA can’t survive without them,” he told WSAZ. “We will not be here without these levies. We won’t be able to match the federal grants. If we don’t match the federal grants, then we would, it would be a disaster for the transit authority to lose these levies.”

Davis explained that there are two separate levies because, as there have been for decades, because both the county and city approved their respective levies. He added that TTA serves the entire county, but most of their service revolves around Huntington.

“It wouldn’t be fair to the whole county to pay for a majority-Huntington system, nor for just Huntington to pay for a countywide system,” Davis said, adding that the system is the most efficient and just way for the system to receive the necessary funds.

Huntington City Council discussed asking its voters for an increased amount on the levy but decided against it.

“Nobody likes additional fees and taxes,” Davis said. “We live within the budget that we have at TTA and we don’t want to ask the voters for additional money.”

Davis said the TTA’s budget is around $8 million, which they compile through federal grants, the levies, fares, and other fees. According to Davis, the money is used to pay for bus maintenance, fuel, and salaries. He also noted that costs are on the rise.

“TTA uses 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year,” he explained. “We were paying right around $2 a gallon for diesel fuel. And so that was $600,000 a year. Now it’s raised to $4 a gallon. So you can do the math.”

Davis said the transit system can be critical for their riders. He also noted that the levy can benefit people who don’t utilize it themselves.

“People are riding the bus for one of two reasons: they’re either going to go make money or they’re going to spend money,” he said. “Plus, if I can put 30 people on a bus, then that could potentially remove 30 cars from the road each day, savings of gas, fuel, helps the environment.”