MTA Posts $186M Surplus

By Joshua Robin
Newsday Staff Writer

July 30, 2003, 6:45 PM EDT

MTA officials vowed Wednesday to keep fares and tolls the way they are through 2004, but continued the fight to close 62 token booths.

The announcements came as the Metropolitan Transportation Authority released its preliminary 2004 budget and reams of other financial documents at their July board meeting.

The disclosures are part of a new transparency policy adopted after the state and city comptroller found the MTA kept two sets of books -- one public, the other internal.

Referring to the documents, board member Kenneth Caruso said: "I urge the public, including our most vociferous critics, to jump in with both feet."

According to the financial statements, the MTA will estimates it will end this year with a $186.3 million surplus -- a far cry than the $2.8 billion deficit it posted last year.

MTA Budget Director Gary Caplan said the authority will absorb the surplus in its 2004 budget, when it faces higher operating expenses and debt service.

But a faction of the MTA's largest union, Local 100 of the Transport Workers Union, said the surplus shows the MTA's duplicity. As recently as last year, when the MTA negotiated its contract with workers, the authority said it needed workers to give up a first year raise to offset its budgetary woes.

"People don't feel they got a fair shake," said Richard McKnight, a subway car inspector.

Katherine Lapp, MTA executive director, said the authority will not revisit the contract.

She also said the authority still plans its controversial proposal to shutter the 62 part-time booths, which would save about $6 million over three years. Gov. George Pataki hasn't indicated whether he will sign two bills that would prohibit the booth closures for up to three years.