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Senate Dems try to fix MTA budget
There are some good ideas coming out of the Democratic Senate. Of course, nobody knows about them, but that's why we have blogs.
Via a press release:
Facing a staggering $1.128 billion operating deficit which threatened the daily commute for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on mass transit, the MTA proposed extensive service cuts and fare increases of up to 23% for commuters. Last year, the Ravitch Commission recommended a set of proposed solutions to the operating deficit and new methods of funding for future MTA capital plans including in part, a payroll tax of 33 cents per $100 of payroll, a fare increase of 8% and tolls on the East River and Harlem River Bridges.
In their plan, the Senate Majority has eliminated the potential bridge tolls and proposed a new payroll tax of 25 cents per $100 of payroll (expected to generate $1.16 billion) and a reduced fare increase of 4% for MTA, LIRR and Metro-North (expected to generate $117 million). Under the Senate’s plan, all potential service cuts will be restored while the proposed fare increases will be cut in half and no tolls will be placed on the bridges.
“Particularly during these times of severe economic distress, it was absolutely essential that we protect working families’ access to an affordable and reliable means of mass transit with an MTA recovery plan that minimizes fare hikes and prevents the loss of services and jobs,” said Senate Majority Leader Malcolm A. Smith.
That's all very well and good, of course. But the exciting part is this:
Crucial to the Senate’s plan are governance changes and greater measures of public oversight and transparency which would require the MTA to provide the honest accounting that New Yorkers deserve. A forensic audit of MTA finances to assure transparency over the next few months and the strengthening of State Comptroller oversight of finances and operating budgets will ensure that a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and prudent spending practices are upheld.
Increased transparency would be one of the key advances if we ever want to have a functioning and accountable government. Baby steps, people.
Re: Senate Dems try to fix MTA budget
Unfortunately, it seems that everyone, from Governor Paterson to all the local daily papers, is panning the Senate plan.
Re: Senate Dems try to fix MTA budget
Well, as you know, in my view, this is not only not good news, but appallingly bad news. The Senate plan is a disaster for everyone who uses mass transit, as I see it. It proposes nowhere near enough money and will leave us in the lurch.
The "forensic auditing" that for some reason (unfathomed by me) you cite as a benefit of the Senate plan is not bad but also was the feature of every other plan. The only good news about this plan is that it indicates that the State Senate knows there is a problem.
Their "solution" is a fraud on the people. Of course the Senate Democrats are deeply divided and enslaved to the four amigos. Unless, either bi-partisanship breaks out in Albany, or more likely reactionaries both Democratic & Republican are driven from office, we're scrod by this extremely bad plan.
Re: Senate Dems try to fix MTA budget
Not going to happen. And probably a good thing. The math on this plan doesn't work.
Horrible as it is, the Ravitch plan is the only thing I've seen so far that seems realistic. I'd even give it vocal support if there were some way to time-limit the East River bridge tolls, but a toll, once installed, is nearly impossible to rescind.
At least it seeks to spread the pain more evenly, but it's looking more and more remote with each passing day. Instead, I'm going to be paying over $100/month for public transit, and two of the bus lines I depend on will be gone completely.
I'm very disappointed in Smith, who seems incapable of uniting his caucus for anything.