On Tuesday, the State Senate’s Democratic majority leadership released its plan to save mass transit riders from massive service cuts and fare hikes.
State Senator Pedro Espada, Jr., in a press release, said Democrats would propose a four percent fare hike for subways and commuter trains and impose a small payroll tax (25 cents for every $100 in payroll). He said the payroll tax would generate $1.16 billion and the fare hikes $117 million.
The state legislature has been loath to adopt the Ravitch Commission’s recommendations of an eight percent fare hike, 33 cents per $100 of payroll tax and tolls on bridges over the Harlem and East rivers.
Even the Senate acknowledged that this will not be a long-term fix, but before implementing anything more substantial, lawmakers want the MTA to open up its books for further review.
“Our proposal addresses the MTA’s immediate need for operational funds,” Espada said in a statement. “In the meantime, it allows us to review the MTA’s financial records and needs.”
Later Tuesday, Gov. David Paterson rejected the plan.
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