With the arrival of the holiday shopping season, Community Transit is asking people to “Buy Local for Transit.”

This long-term effort is designed to encourage people to shop in their communities, strengthening local businesses and increasing local tax revenues, which supports public transportation.

Community Transit is funded primarily through a portion of retail sales taxes generated in its service district, which is most of Snohomish County.

“Buy Local for Transit reminds residents that doing your holiday shopping right here in Snohomish County is an easy way to support local business and valuable services like Community Transit,” said Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon. “We all have the power to re-energize the local economy, support transit and make a few holiday wishes come true at the same time.”

Visit the new Buy Local for Transit website for information about the program, a downloadable “I Buy Local for Transit” card and a growing list of participating businesses that will offer special discounts. Transit riders can show their ORCA regional fare card to get the discounts as well.

Community Transit gets the majority of its funding from a voter-approved 0.9 percent sales tax, or nine cents on a $10 purchase, within its service district. With consumer spending down during the recession, the agency’s sales tax revenue has fallen by about $20 million a year. As a result, the agency had to make major service cuts earlier this year, including eliminating all Sunday service.