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OTTUMWA, IOWA (AP) --
The Ottumwa Transit Authority's contract with the Iowa Department of Transportation has expired as officials haggle over disputed ridership numbers.
     
The city's contract with the state expired at midnight Friday. The transit authority cannot receive state or federal funds without a deal, crippling the financing it depends on.
     
The major point of contention between Ottumwa and the state appears to be the ridership numbers for fiscal year 2011. One of
the key findings of a state audit released in May was that the transit authority deliberately inflated ridership numbers to gain
more funding.
     
State transportation officials want rider numbers corrected before signing a new contract. City officials say they're confident a deal will be reached.
        
Information from: The Ottumwa Courier, http://www.ottumwacourier.com

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