MTA BUDGET DEFIES COURT ORDER; SPENDING PLAN LEAVES OUT BUS PURCHASES, LEASES.Byline: Douglas Haberman Daily News Staff Writer The MTA's proposed $2.5 billion balanced budget Balanced budget A budget in which the income equals expenditure. See: budget. balanced budget A budget in which the expenditures incurred during a given period are matched by revenues. for 1999-2000 includes no money for either 277 stopgap buses or 532 new buses that a court-appointed official has ordered the agency to obtain to reduce passenger crowding, MTA (1) (Message Transfer Agent or Mail Transfer Agent) The store and forward part of a messaging system. See messaging system. (2) See M Technology Association. 1. (messaging) MTA - Message Transfer Agent. officials said Friday. ``We do not think we should have an order to do this,'' said Julian Burke, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's chief executive officer, in a meeting with reporters to discuss his proposed spending plan. The MTA has filed a motion with court-appointed Special Master Donald Bliss asking him to reconsider re·con·sid·er v. re·con·sid·ered, re·con·sid·er·ing, re·con·sid·ers v.tr. 1. To consider again, especially with intent to alter or modify a previous decision. 2. his March order. The ruling required the MTA to lease 277 buses this calendar year to reduce as soon as possible the number of standing passengers, and to buy 532 new buses by June 2002 - above and beyond 2,095 buses the agency is already planning to purchase by 2004. Burke said even if the MTA ordered the 532 buses in the coming fiscal year, it wouldn't have to pay for them until a later year, so they wouldn't affect the 1999-2000 budget. The lack of money for the 277 temporary buses, however, ``is the greatest risk in this year's budget proposal,'' he said. But whether they're new or old, Burke said, he doesn't even know where he could get 277 buses right away. The proposed budget is about $118 million larger than the current fiscal year's budget and almost $500 million larger than the one for 1997-98. State and federal subsidies and greater local sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. revenues, which together provide most of the MTA's revenues, will account for most of the growth, officials said. Fares and other sources of income are expected to provide about $276 million in revenues, up $24.4 million from the current year. Roughly $10 million in revenues would come from a 7 percent fare hike Burke is proposing for buses, subway subway: see rapid transit. subway Underground railway system used to transport passengers within urban and suburban areas. The first subway line, 3. and light rail lines, which if approved would be only the second MTA fare hike in 11 years. Burke said bus service is improving and will improve further next year, and should convince bus riders that the proposed fare increases are fair, he said. But the Bus Riders Union strongly disputes that an increase is justified and will fight a fare hike legally and politically, said Eric Mann, a BRU leader. ``In no possible way can the MTA raise fares,'' he said. Referring to the MTA bus system, Mann added: ``There should be no fare for this piece of garbage garbage: see solid waste. .'' Mann said the federal court might disapprove dis·ap·prove v. dis·ap·proved, dis·ap·prov·ing, dis·ap·proves v.tr. 1. To have an unfavorable opinion of; condemn. 2. To refuse to approve; reject. v.intr. of the budget. ``I think this budget is in obvious defiance Defiance, city (1990 pop. 16,768), seat of Defiance co., NW Ohio, at the confluence of the Auglaize and Maumee rivers, in a farm area; settled 1790, inc. 1836. Its manufactures include machinery and food, fabricated-metal, and glass products. Gen. of the court order,'' he said. ``In my view the MTA is literally looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. the courts to come in and enforce the order.'' The proposed budget reflects a trend toward lower spending on costly rail construction. One of the largest portions of the budget would go toward regional transportation programs, from construction of freeway car-pool lanes and sound walls to street widening. HIGHER PRICES Julian Burke, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's chief executive officer, is proposing these fare increases as part of a $2.5 billion balanced budget for 1999-2000. The fare hikes would go into effect in November. Transfers, express stamps and off-peak fares would remain at their current levels. Standard fare: up 10 cents to $1.45. Monthly pass: up $3 to $45. Discount token: up 5 cents to 95 cents. Metro weekly Metro Weekly is a free weekly magazine-style publication for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. It was first published on May 5, 1994, and the magazine is celebrating its 13th anniversary in 2007. pass: up $1 to $12. Semi-weekly pass: up $2 to $23. Monthly K-12 student monthly pass: up $2 to $22. College student monthly pass: up $2 to $32. Senior and disabled fare: up 10 cents to 55 cents. Senior and disabled monthly pass: up $1 to $13. SOURCE: MTA CAPTION(S): Box BOX: HIGHER PRICES (see text) |
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