As new facts surface illustrating the need for increased fiscal responsibility and financial accountability at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua) and Minority Conference Members representing the Hudson Valley today called for creation of an "MTA Fiscal Oversight Control Board" to increase the authority's operating efficiency and responsiveness to policy-makers and taxpayers.
Approximately 38 percent of the MTA's operating budget goes to salaries ($4.2 billion), and nearly 12 percent of that amount is for overtime (over $400 million). As noted in a report released June 24, 2009 by the highly respected, non-partisan Empire Center for New York State Policy, over 10 percent of the MTA's employees (8,214 in total) make $100,000 or more annually. In 2008, an MTA car repairman made $283,000. The Empire Center's report is available here.
The Assembly Minority proposal closely mirrors legislation called for by former Governor Eliot Spitzer, the "Public Authorities Reform Act of 2007," (Program Bill 32R of 2007) which would have strengthened the oversight and administration of New York's public authorities.
The Assembly Minority Conference's proposed MTA Fiscal Oversight Control Board would be empowered to:
Seven members would comprise the proposed MTA Fiscal Oversight Board, with the Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General, Assembly Speaker, Senate Majority Leader, Assembly Minority Leader and Senate Minority Leader each making one appointment that would serve a four-year, unpaid term. Courts have ruled in favor of similar fiscal oversight control boards having the power to freeze salaries and benefits, as was the case in Buffalo, NY.
In May, after the Legislature had enacted legislation (Assembly Bill A.8180/Senate Bill S.5451, Chapter 25 of the Laws of 2009) to help close the MTA's operational budget deficit of $1.77 billion, Kolb and the Minority Conference publicly called for a comprehensive audit of the MTA to ensure it was utilizing public monies in the most efficient manner possible.
"Our Conference is calling for the establishment of a fiscal oversight control board to help increase the MTA's transparency, accountability and responsiveness to policy-makers and taxpayers. In an era when government at all levels is being asked to do more with less, we need to insist that the MTA and all our public authorities operate with maximum efficiency and take every step to minimize costs. A fiscal oversight control board would help the MTA meet this standard," said Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb (R,I,C-Canandaigua).
"King George himself could not have come up with an idea as cruel, or as atrocious, as the MTA payroll tax. This was the final straw on the Hudson Valley's already overburdened back and we have to send this Governor, and this legislature, and tax and spending leaders even beyond Albany, the message that we are beyond the point of writing letters to the editor," Assemblyman Greg Ball (R,C,I-Patterson) said. "If the business community is up to the task, and I believe they are, I can assure them that as elected officials we will stand by them and say 'Enough is enough, we have reached our breaking point, and will be abused no longer!' King George wanted 10 percent and we had a revolution, we are now giving nearly 50 percent, and the time to act has come and gone a thousand times. Now is the time for the historic Hudson Valley to take a stand with the creation of an oversight board."
"The people and businesses of the Hudson Valley are already struggling to survive during these dire economic times. The MTA sought a taxpayer bailout while doling out raises," said Assemblyman Marc Molinaro (R,C,I-Red Hook). "With this most recent revelation that ten percent of their employees make over $100,000 annually, it is clear that a third-party, independent forensic audit is necessary. We, and the hardworking taxpayers we represent, expect oversight, transparency and accountability."