MTA Staffers Continue To Lose Perks
Over the last few months it has been the same stories in the news when it comes to the MTA. The biggest story by far has been the sorry state of finances at the agency & how they are looking at any & every way to cut costs. So to no one’s surprise, news has come out that the MTA has ordered 59 staffers to return take-home cars as part of cost cutting initiatives. New York Daily News transit reporter Pete Donohue has more in this report:
At least 59 MTA staffers are being stripped of their take-home cars in a series of cost-cutting moves underway at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Daily News has learned.
“In addition to cutting 6% of costs over four years, we’ve taken immediate steps to tighten our belts and will continue to pursue a host of cost-cutting initiatives,” MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin said.
Several senior staffers at one MTA division – including a six-figure vice president – already have had to return authority-owned sedans they had been granted to use on-duty and for their commutes.
The Daily News reported this summer that 60 Bridges and Tunnels workers were given take-home cars.
Other authority divisions are working on similar recalls. Each has at least determined how many employees will have to give up take-home cars, the MTA said.
Facing huge operating budget gaps in 2009 and beyond, MTA CEO Elliot Sander last year directed agency heads to cut expenses by 1.5% a year for four consecutive years.
In July, Sander directed agency presidents to find additional savings through such actions as delaying planned hirings by two months, canceling most out-of-town travel and slashing the total mileage racked up by all vehicles not used for passengers.
Click here for the complete report.
I don’t have much to say besides the obvious. I support this move as any extra money that can legitimately be saved while not hurting infrastructure or service should be implemented immediately.
xoxo Transit Blogger
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