When much of the state of California was under safer-at-home orders earlier this year, the magnitude of the impact on sales tax revenues Metro and the region relies on were uncertain. Thanks to tight budget controls and emergency relief funding granted to Metro through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the budget for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2021 is — as legally required — balanced and fiscally responsible.
As many of you know, the Metro Board of Directors usually considers the coming fiscal year’s budget in May. We postponed this year’s budget release and approval to this month in order to best understand the impact of the ongoing pandemic. So the Metro Board will consider the budget at their full Board meeting on Sept. 24.
The total FY21 Proposed Budget is about $6 billion, a decrease of 16.5 percent from the prior year. This budget illustrates Metro’s commitment to provide critical transportation services throughout Los Angeles County. (Here’s a separate Source post on bus and rail service levels in the budget and our NextGen effort to restructure the Metro bus system).
The Proposed FY21 budget also aligns resources to achieve the five goals established by Vision 2028, Metro’s comprehensive strategic plan:
- Provide high-quality mobility options enabling people to spend less time traveling
- Deliver outstanding trip experiences for all users of the transportation system
- Enhance communities and lives through mobility and access to opportunities
- Transform Los Angeles County through regional collaboration with state and national leadership
- Provide responsible, accountable, and trustworthy governance within the LA Metro organization
Progress will continue in FY21 on all Measure M and R projects. We will continue to work toward environmental clearance and shovel readiness which includes the building of new highways and transportation infrastructure as well as planning and providing funding for regional transportation activities.
Read the full proposed FY21 budget above or download it here. Then be sure to tune in to the Regional Service Council briefing or the Budget Public Hearing to provide your comments!
Regional Service Council FY21 Proposed Budget Briefing
Thursday, Sept 3, 2020 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The public will be able to stream online, listen and comment by phone in English and Spanish, and submit comments online to be read during the briefing.
Watch online: Link to stream will appear here when the meeting begins.
Listen by phone: Dial 877.422.8614, enter Meeting Extension 4700419# (English) or 4127050# (Spanish)
Listen and comment: Dial 877.422.8614 and enter meeting extension 4700423# (English) or 4127057# (Spanish).
Comment online: Submit your eComment to be read during the briefing here
Budget Public Hearing
Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020 at 1:30 p.m.
Watch online: boardagenda.metro.net
To listen and provide comments by phone: Dial 877.422.8614 and enter meeting extension 3489884#. Once the meeting begins, use this link to comment.
Provide your input via email at budgetcomments@metro.net between now and September 10.
Categories: Policy & Funding
The link is wrong for tomorrow’s hearing – it appears to be boardagendaS plural
Hi Joe —
Fixed the link. Thanks,
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
I live in Crenshaw Manor, the predominantly single-family residential community bordering the Metro stations located (to the west) at Crenshaw/Expo & Crenshaw/MLK. Our great concern is that this ‘high-density development’ along with METRO riders using our residential streets as a “park-n- ride” will negatively impact our parking access on their own street.
There has been no parking allotted for the MLK/Crenshaw metro line, and we are almost guaranteed our street parking will be negatively impacted as a result.
The Crenshaw metro line is a “new” situation, so let’s help create a fiscal policy that is fair to all. We request that METRO budget for a type of “PPD (Preferential Parking District) Savings Fund” – where finances for permit parking would be allocated for potential distribution to pay PPD vehicular permits for Crenshaw Manor home-owning residents, and other residential neighborhoods directly bordering the METRO stops.
Our experience as homeowners with the Exposition/Crenshaw line and the negative impact created by the increased parking problems from riders accessing streets. We see the MLK/Crenshaw stop doing the same once the train is up and running. We are asking Metro to add to their future budget fund to pay homeowners for PPD.