The program, which ferried concert-goers from the Village to Montalvo and back for free in exchange for the passengers' dining at a city restaurant or staying at a Saratoga hotel, was bankrolled by the city last year. Faced with a tight economic situation, the city has determined that it cannot afford to continue to subsidize the free shuttle this year. The city supported the program last year with nearly $21,000.

Restaurant owners on Big Basin Way say that they benefited from the program and are keen to ensure that the shuttle is up and running when the first summer concert kicks off at Montalvo on June 9.

A small group of business owners in the Village are trying to raise money so that the free shuttle program can continue with minimal help from the city.

Bill Cooper, owner of the Bella Saratoga restaurant, is one of them.

"The shuttle program worked for everyone. It was good for the image of the city; it supported the arts, and it gave a boost to business," he said.

In the last week, Cooper and other business owners have met more than once to discuss ways of financing the service.

Cooper has also walked around the Village trying to explain the situation to other business owners. He and some others have been distributing a flyer that lists what the shuttle means for local businesses.

As part of the fundraising drive, restaurants, bars and hotels are being asked to pay $150 to be part of the shuttle program. Other business owners in the Village who don't necessarily benefit directly from the program are being asked to contribute $50.

The shuttle started running in July of last year, midway through the concert season.

"We did not do it all the way last year. But we want to be ready before the concert season begins this year," said Cooper.

Before the shuttle program started, most concert-goers parked at West Valley College and then took a shuttle from there to Montalvo. The concert organizers at Montalvo will continue to run a shuttle from the college.

Montalvo offers only 175 parking spots at its venue, and it costs $25 to park there on a concert night.

"The contingent of passengers on the free Village shuttle increased with every passing week. So evidently it was working," said Bruce Labadie, the director of performing arts at Montalvo.

Labadie said that Montalvo had already offered to pay $5,000 to help the Village merchants fund the free shuttle.

"That is only about one-quarter of the cost. We are trying to be a good neighbor here," he said.

Karen Grellas, owner of Viaggio's restaurant, has been walking up and down Big Basin Way in the last few weeks trying to convince other business owners to support the shuttle.

"This helps our community and gives us a focus. It also links downtown with the arts," she said.

Grellas said that local banks and real estate offices have also shown some interest in contributing to the program.

"But we have just started the process. There are a lot of kinks to be ironed out," she said. "We need someone to handle the money. It is important that we are ready by May."

The merchants plan to appeal to the city council and ask them for some money. They have also asked Saratoga Rotary for help.

Grellas is urging local residents to go and speak for the shuttle when the issue reaches the city council. "We need the community's support," she said.

About 600 concert-goers took advantage of the free ride last year--as many as 90 people some nights.

Josiah Slone, chef and owner of Sent Sovi restaurant, said that a lot of people who live near the downtown area also took part in the program.

"They would have a glass of wine or two and dinner and then take the shuttle to the concert. Isn't that much better than waiting for the shuttle at West Valley College?" said Slone.

"I'm confident that if we continue with the program, the shuttle will be used more and more with every passing year," he said.

Slone said that the program was the first step in making downtown Saratoga a destination area.

"We could also start a few more festivals to attract people here," he said. "They could be food or art related."

All that is for the future.

For now, Slone is interested in concentrating his energies on the shuttle program.

"I think sharing the cost of the shuttle service is a great idea," said Slone. "That way everyone pays a little and no one gets strangled."