Rock Region Metro's board of directors on Tuesday gave the transit agency's top executive a 3 percent raise in his annual pay, as well as a 3 percent bonus.
The boost in Jarod Varner's compensation was "based on his performance and his agency's performance," said Bentley Wallace of North Little Rock, chairman of the board's personnel committee.
"I'm honored by the fact that the Metro board of directors chose to acknowledge the incredible progress Rock Region Metro achieved in 2015," Varner said after the meeting.
The 3 percent increase in pay will boost Varner's annual salary to $131,216.24, according to figures the agency provided. He also will receive a bonus of $3,819.24.
The raise and bonus came after a year in which the agency developed a strategic plan that produced a name change from Central Arkansas Transit and a proposal to establish a 0.25 percent sales tax dedicated to mass transit.
The agency would use the proceeds to add buses and routes, and to increase frequency of stops. Plans also call for bus rapid transit, which is higher-frequency service using bigger buses and sometimes lanes set aside for buses.
Pulaski County voters will decide at the March 1 primary whether to levy the sales tax, which would double the agency's budget to nearly $37 million.
The proposal is an effort by the transit agency to attract "choice" riders, passengers who would use the bus to commute if the service was more convenient than it is now.
Consultant estimates say the plan would boost ridership 30 percent to 40 percent. Ridership on Rock Region Metro's regular bus routes declined 2.24 percent last year to 2,573,953, according to agency data.
A committee formed to support passage of the tax will begin its campaign Thursday.
Varner also led an effort that saw the agency's first compressed natural gas buses go into service, developed a real-time passenger information system and made free Wi-Fi available on buses.
Varner also was appointed to a full term on the American Public Transportation Association Board of Directors.
Metro on 01/20/2016