OU’s weekend taxicab program received $55,000 of support funds from the university after the program’s yearly balance was in the red by the end of March.

The SafeRide program’s expenses were $5,019.92 in the hole after officials paid $5,220 in monthly service fees to Airport Express on March 24, one of the program’s contracted services, according to SafeRide’s expense ledger.

The program has paid $29,645 to Airport Express from Nov. 1 to March 31. Yellow Cab Co.’s fees cost the university $26,352 in the same period. Both companies’ fees account for 84 percent of the program’s expenses.

SafeRide provides free rides home to OU students from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights and Sunday mornings. The normal fare of $12 is charged to the university instead, OU Student Programs Director Brynn Daves said in an email.

The president’s office provides all of its funds to the program, Daves said. She and other directors tell the office the amount of operational funds the program will need each year, and the office transfers the money.

The funds come from the university’s central budget, which is controlled by the Finance and Administration office, university spokesman Chris Shilling said.

Program coordinators knew when the fiscal year began in July they would need to request additional funds for SafeRide but waited until later to do so based on actual spending reports, Daves said.

SafeRide has 20 sedans and vans in operation through Airport Express and Yellow Cab Co. on the weekend, Daves said.

Airport Express has five drivers work on the weekend, Airport Express office manager Lary Love said.