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Metro Budget Forecast Improves, Another Fare Hike Unlikely

By: David Schultz // January 13, 2011
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Metro says its budget has improved from last year, and it likely will not have to raise fares or cut services again.

Last year, Metro implemented a dramatic fare hike to cover a nearly $200 million gap in its budget.

This year, Metros budget gap is less than $90 million, and it says it can fill that through cost savings rather than cuts or fare hikes.

For instance, Metro is saving more than $3 million through an audit of its employee health care system. It's also moving $36 million from its annual operating budget to its longterm capital budget.

The rosy forecast comes despite a slower-than-expected growth in ridership.

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