Community Transit of Watertown Sisseton Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

CTWSI signed an MOU with River Cities Transit in 2020 to transport Veterans as part of the Highly Rural Transportation Grant. This grant allows CTWSI to transport qualified veterans in the counties designated as highly rural (less than 7 people per square mile) to appointments in a variety of locations. The HRTG pays the fare to CTWSI for the rides. In our coverage area, Deuel, Clark, Day, Marshall, Spink, Faulk, McPherson and Campbell counties are considered highly rural.Our overall increase in ridership is considered an accomplishment because of the impact our service had in our communities. Overall, the CTWSI ridership increased by over 8,000 in one year - from 182,002 to 190,603. Watertown's ridership increased by 13,000 rides from 70,500 to 83,614. The biggest increase was in rides for employment, which became the leading category for transportation. Overall, education remains the largest category for riders followed by medical and employment rides. CTWSI became approved vendors for the Veterans.Administrators continue to speak to any audience about the benefits and the workings of public transit. We assume the outreach we do is at least partially responsible for the large growth in ridership numbers. Social media is still our favorite source for advertising. We are in the process of revamping our website and are excited about the possibilities in the future. Word of mouth is still our most beneficial method of reaching the public and so we continue to be a face in the crowd as much and as often as possible.We are a member of the SD Transit Providers Association, Dakota Transit Association and Community Transportation of America. Co-Executive Director Terry Hoffman was elected as the new president of the DTA in October. He replaced CTWSI's other Co-Executive Director Kathy Holman as the previous president Kathy remains on the same board for one more year ending in the fall of 2026.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 56.7%; rating input score 57
• Program expense ratio: 67.4%; rating input score 67
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: Limited
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 16.4%; rating input score 73; 73rd percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 1.34; rating input score 47; 47th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.03; rating input score 77; 77th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 5.8%; rating input score 48; 48th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 9.4% per year; rating input score 100; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 6.8% per year; rating input score 100; 53rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 11.4% per year; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings