Frank S. Wrote:
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> Pretty typical right wing reaction. Cut budgets,
> cut, cut,cut (while cutting taxes for the
> wealthy), then say "look how incompetent liberal
> government is at doing anything". Applies to
> metro. Applies especially to education.
When was Metro's budget cut?
What happened to the $3 b-b-b-billion that they got for capital improvements under the stimulus program in 2011 (plus about another $2 billion in other money)?
"If current trends continue, WMATA's costs will grow 6% a year while revenues only grow 1% a year, creating a larger and larger need for local governments to pay more, according to a presentation the WMATA Board will discuss Thursday...
According to the presentation, WMATA would either need to get cost growth down to about 2% while keeping revenues the same, or increase revenue growth to about 8% a year, or some combination, in order to keep the local subsidies growing at 3% a year total.
"
About 70% of the forecast growth comes from adding staff or raises for staff; MetroAccess, the regional paratransit service, makes up 10% of the growth, and opening the Silver Line's Phase 2 accounts for 8%. Fuel, contracted services, and other things comprise the rest. There are also unfunded benefits and pension liabilities of $2.5 billion."
Capital budgets and "maintenance" aren't the problem here.