City takes $84,000 transit hit

The city is writing off $84,000 in lost bus passes and tickets and fears it could be out another $260,000.

The transit system depends on about 200 local retailers to sell its tickets and passes. Finance staff deemed seven of the accounts uncollectible because of changed ownership, businesses closing or accounting issues.

Hamilton lost $161,000 when Info Place declared bankruptcy in January. It owed the city for four months of ticket and pass sales.

Rob Rossini, general manager of finance and corporate services, said the city has applied to the bankruptcy trustee to try to reclaim some of the lost funds.