Bus riders can stop worrying about transportation cuts after a predicted mass transit deficit of $15,000 last week was revised to a predicted surplus of nearly $50,000.

The sudden switch in the bottom line announced at Monday’s mass transit meeting resulted from an unexpected “windfall” of students coming to NIU and lowered gas price projections, said Rick Schaschwary, the Student Association Mass Transit Board budgeter.

The revised budget, which apparently surprised and even confused board members, killed all proposals to cut bus service for now.

“As long as we aren’t in a desperate situation, I oppose cutting service,” said board member Gary Jones. “We need to keep a consistent route and a consistent schedule.”

Two motions to approve cuts or even discuss them in the future were shot down at the meeting.

However, the unexpected surplus could be wiped out by high gas prices if bullets start to fly in the Persian Gulf, Schaschwary said.

He said the current surplus prediction is highly dependent on future actions in the Gulf.

“If I were a god, these numbers would come through exactly as projected. I am not a god. These numbers will come out differently, I guarantee you,” Schaschwary said.

He said projecting budgets demands a lot of guesswork, and offering his best guess last week was important to warn the board about a possible deficit.

Also, last week’s estimated $15,000 deficit was based on crude figures while this week’s budget offered more accurate numbers based on new information from NIU and a more complete analysis of gas consumption, he said.

The board also announced bus service will stop at 1 p.m. on Wednesday and continue again at 12 p.m. on Sunday for Thanksgiving.