Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday expressed issues over Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to have New York City taxpayers contribute an further $500 million yearly to handle the MTA’s price range deficits.
“The city annually contributes approximately $2 billion to the MTA in direct and in-kind contributions and, while we recognize the significant fiscal challenges the MTA faces, we are concerned that this increased commitment could further strain our already-limited resources,” Adams mentioned in a press release responding to Hochul’s $227 billion proposed state price range.
The mayor’s objection to the MTA funding plan was a uncommon event of disagreement between the 2 centrist Democrats who’ve been carefully aligned on a bunch of points.
Adams notably started his assertion by highlighting “victories” within the price range for the city. He praised the governor for committing spending on a number of of his key priorities, together with psychological well being, public security, housing and the migrant disaster.
On the latter, Hochul has pledged to pay greater than $1 billion over the subsequent two years.
However throughout a information convention earlier within the day, Adams declined to reply to questions on Hochul’s price range. He mentioned he would delay commenting till his employees had completed analyzing the main points.
Hochul is going through a tough problem with the MTA. The transit authority has skilled price range shortfalls on account of decrease subway ridership due to adjustments in work patterns in the course of the pandemic. The MTA is going through a $600 million price range hole this yr. The deficit is predicted to develop to greater than $1 billion subsequent yr.
A latest evaluation by the Residents Price range Fee discovered that city taxpayers present 71% of the MTA’s non-fare and toll, nonfederal income.
Brad Lander, the city comptroller, additionally opposed the governor’s MTA funding proposal, which features a fare hike for subway riders.
“The State should not stick the City with the bill to sustain our regional public transit system,” Lander mentioned in his personal assertion.
Lander as an alternative urged the governor to rely on an improve in payroll taxes, income from a plan for new casinos and congestion pricing to assist the financially troubled authority.