Claremont — The City Council approved a $22,500 appropriation from fund balance on Wednesday for support of the public bus service that has been operated by Southwestern Community Services of Keene, N.H., since October.

The vote on the resolution formalized the council’s decision last month to help support the service, which shut down for about a month in early September under a previous operator because of financial difficulties.

The council made it clear that its vote was for this year only and not an indication that the city will continue supporting the service in the next budget year, which begins July 1.

“It is not an automatic expenditure every year,” Mayor Charlene Lovett said.

The council wants to see data this spring on progress SWC is making toward increasing ridership and finding other revenue sources, including private businesses. Councilor Vic Bergeron and Bruce Temple voted no as they did in the first vote in December.

Prior to this vote, the city had not contributed any financial support for the service for several years.