China’s Struggling Bus Operators Highlight Fiscal Woes of Local Governments

A bus operator in a city in central China said it would suspend services due to mounting losses stemming from the pandemic and dwindling subsidies, before rescinding the decision after the government stepped in, highlighting the fiscal headaches of local authorities nationwide.

The losses at Shangqiu Public Transportation Co. Ltd. had been so severe that it couldn’t afford to pay salaries, social insurance contributions for its employees, electricity bills to charge its buses, or vehicle insurance, according to screenshots of an announcement from the company on Thursday morning that made the rounds on social media.