MTA Board Approves Audit of Management Costs

With a $438-million deficit looming over the agency in the next decade, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board on Thursday approved an audit of its management costs.

The audit request was made by board member and county Supervisor Mike Antonovich and it directs Julian Burke, the MTA’s chief executive officer, to report back next month on when the audit would be performed.

Burke told the board that Antonovich’s request might be combined with one of the agency’s regularly scheduled audits.

In an effort to allay fears of layoffs, Burke told the MTA board that since his arrival in 1997, more than 200 administrative and management positions have been cut, saving about $15 million a year.

Antonovich noted that while the transit agency has made some savings through union bus driver, mechanic and other contracts, high administrative costs remain and bus service still costs more than $95 an hour.