Section 73-H. Operating aid

1. For those rural counties having an approved
  and implemented coordinated public transportation service plan which has
  maintained existing levels of funding used  for  transportation  by  the
  coordinated service and has documented the need for additional operating
  aid,   the  commissioner  may,  in  consultation  with  the  interagency
  coordinating committee on  rural  public  transportation,  grant  up  to
  twenty-five  thousand  dollars per year for operating aid for up to five
  successive years, subject to annual appropriations to be included in the
  state budget.  Such aid may be extended  annually  when  the  county  or
  operator of the coordinated public transportation service has adequately
  demonstrated  the  need  for  such  continued  aid and that criteria for
  continuing aid established by rules issued by the commissioner have been
  met.
    2. No such operating aid shall be paid to any rural county unless such
  county  appropriates  and  expends  at  least  twenty  percent  of   the
  coordinated  public transportation service's total annual administrative
  and operating costs. Except for other public transportation monies  paid
  by  the  department  to  the  county, such amount may include any county
  funds used for operating aid, including funds used to support any  other
  transportation  service, that have been appropriated to an account under
  the management and control  of  the  coordinated  public  transportation
  service.