(The Associated Press circulated the following story on June 25.)
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s board has unanimously approved a $920 million budget for fiscal 2005, with a $70 million deficit and no increase in state assistance in sight.
Officials of the transit agency will continue to lobby for more state aid, but state legislators are expected to adopt a final budget next week, SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney said.
Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-Montgomery, a SEPTA board member, introduced legislation last week that would have increased the share of the state sales tax going to transit, but there’s been no action on the proposal.
Faye Moore, SEPTA general manager, said she will propose service cuts, fare increases or both to balance the budget if there is no relief by October.