University of Georgia police say a van service designed to help students get home safely when they leave work or class alone at night has been discontinued.

UGA Police Chief Jimmy Williamson told the Athens Banner-Herald that the service is ending because of continuing state budget cuts.

Authorities said the state has reduced funding to UGA and other state colleges and universities by more than 23 percent since 2009 as state revenues declined.

Williamson said eliminating the van service will save his department about $50,000 a year.

Tags: University of Georgia, budget cuts, University of Georgia police, late-night van service