“Heading to the Island County Fair this week may prove to be a bit of a challenge for public-transit reliant Whidbey Islanders.Budget constraints caused by fair building repair and maintenance costs have forced the Island County Fair Association to cut late evening and Sunday Island Transit bus service, said Ruth Turner, Island County Fair Association president.For 14 years Island Transit had added late evening and Sunday routes to the normal schedule, to transport island residents to and from the fairgrounds in Langley, said Martha Rose, director of Island Transit. The cost of the additional routes was paid by Island County Fair Association.The news of the cuts was a shock to Rose.We corresponded (with the fair association) in April, and everything was a go, Rose said Thursday after finding out about the cuts Wednesday.I’m worried about the public, Rose said. Riders have been asking for about two months if the extra service to the fairgrounds would continue and Island Transit has been telling them ‘yes,’ Rose said.The Island County Fair Association determined in May that it would not have the funds to pay for the additional bus routes. Turner said Island Transit was not informed of the route cuts because of a communications glitch.We notify transit two months or so (in advance) if we need them, Turner said. Meanwhile, Island Transit officials thought they would be notified if the service was not needed, Turner said.Based on prior years’ ridership records between 700 and 1,400 people have used the special bus routes to get to and from the fair, Rose said.Island County Fair Association’s budget shortfall was caused by an increase in expenses this year, Turner said.Basically the fact that because we are self-sustaining we don’t have the funds this year to pay for the buses, Turner said.This year the fair association had to put extra money into building improvements, above and beyond the money provided by Island County for capital improvements, that otherwise would not have come from its regular budget. The only money and funds that the Island County Fair gets comes from the state from parimutual money, Turner said. Cab service will be available to the public, Turner said. Taxis will be set up across the street from the fair’s main gates on Camano Avenue, near the South Whidbey Historical Society.You can reach News-Times reporter Christine Smith at csmith@whidbeynewstimes.com or call 675-6611 “