Unless new revenue can be generated, Pierce Transit may need to halt some bus services in the county in 2012.

Kelly Hayden, Pierce County Transit Director said the agency will decide whether to make any service changes depending on if its able to increase revenue.

“If we find new funding it will be kind of a moot point,” Hayden said.

Hayden said public input and the opinion of the board of commissioners will determine the course of action regarding how to fund, but every option is being considered.

A fare increase is not going to provide enough funds so it may not be enacted, but it’s still a possibility.

Pierce Transit may ask voters to approve a three-tenths of 1 percent sales tax increase. Sales tax provides approximately 70 percent of Pierce Transit’s budget with fares and grants making up much of the remainder.

“The thing that can yield the biggest result is the three-tenths sales tax increase,” Hayden said.

A partnership is another way Pierce Transit saves money. Pierce Transit has a partnership with the city of Auburn, where Auburn pays for a third of the cost, King County Metro provides one third and Pierce Transit provides a third of the cost.

Pierce Transit will begin a process of collecting community input at a series of public meetings to help determine how to improve the budget while minimizing adversity to riders.

“How do we impact the least number of people?” said Hayden.

Public meetings to collect input on how to approach the matter begin this month and an April 5 meeting is scheduled at the Puyallup Library at 6 p.m.