Metro is asking riders to weigh in on four options during Wednesday’s public hearing that essentially mix and match three ways to quickly cover $16 million of a $40 million shortfall in the current budget: service cuts, raiding capital funds, and raising fares by as much as a dime.
But the agency needs the input quickly as Metro’s board of directors is slated to vote on the emergency budget measure just a few hours later on Thursday morning.
And now they’ll have two new voices weighing in on the crucial vote. Outgoing Chairman Jim Graham said he plans to swear in new federal appointees Mortimer Downey and Marcel Acosta at the start of Thursday’s regular board meeting and fully expects them to vote on the proposed cuts.
Downey told The Examiner he cannot attend the public hearing Wednesday night because of a prior speaking commitment. “As a result I will wait to hear discussion at the Board meeting to make up my mind,” he wrote in an e-mail. “I do intend to cast a vote based on what I think is in the best long-term interest of the system and its stakeholders.”
But the choices ahead for riders, taxpayers and the board will not
be easy.
Under all options, the fare increases and service cuts alone would not fill the hole. The board is proposing taking money from Metro’s capital fund in each option, but the amount varies from covering the entire $16 million hole to as little as $6.4 million.
Ben Ross, who leads the Transit First coalition of riders advocates, said his group opposes service cuts. Still, Ross said he is concerned about Metro taking money set aside for capital maintenance projects, which Metro says could push back work such as rail yard renovations.
“To the extent that they borrow from the capital budget, they really need to have a plan for getting that money back in future years,” Ross said.
The agency will face a bigger squeeze in just a matter of months when it tries to fill a $175 million gap in the budget that begins July 1. Permanent fare increases are expected then.
Metro officials are gearing up for a late-night Wednesday. As of late last week, more than 30 people had signed up to speak, which translates to more than 90 minutes of testimony if they each use their allotted three minutes. Agency officials are already focused on when the last train leaves for the night.
Staff Writer William C. Flook contributed to this report.
