The Butler Transit Authority was right in voting to continue evening and Sunday service under its new $1.083 million operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The action made the evening and Sunday service what was described as a permanent part of the budget.

John Paul, authority executive director, said the service in question represents about 15 percent of the authority's total ridership. Authority members were no doubt on target in projecting that the bus system's overall ridership number would fall if the evening and Sunday service was eliminated.

Although that service now will be listed as "permanent," the authority should review it closely each year at budget time. If the ridership ever falls markedly from its current level, serious thought should be given to a scale-back, or reverting solely to daytime service.

In fact, the authority should routinely review all routes to determine which should be continued and which should be revised, scaled back or eliminated.

Despite what the evening and Sunday service means to the authority's total annual numbers, it must be acknowledged that, in reality, it, like most of the public transit service here and elsewhere, still is a losing proposition in terms of the money it brings in from riders.

To continue the evening and Sunday service, which costs about $155,000 annually, the local authority voted to use $68,800 of reserve money. That $68,800 will make the authority eligible for a federal matching grant.

The authority also is anticipating that the service will bring in about $18,000 in fare revenue over the course of the fiscal year, from July 1 through June 30, 2008.

So, a total of $137,600 in authority and federal funds will be spent to earn an estimated $18,000 in fare revenue.

The Butler Transit Authority isn't alone in posting such losing numbers in its role of providing public transportation to those who need it. That is why the federal and state governments, recognizing the importance of bus service in the overall scheme of transportation and conserving energy, are willing to spend taxpayer dollars to subsidize such services.

The local transit authority exhibited responsibility and confidence in its decision to continue the evening and Sunday service. It is to be hoped that more area residents respond by making regular use of the bus service that is available.

Sometimes, when something is lost, it is difficult, if not impossible, to bring it back. That's an important consideration as the cost of gasoline continues to edge further above the once-unthinkable $3-a-gallon price.