MTS approves $473.1 million budget, but faces future 'fiscal cliff'

MTS approves budget for next year as financial crisis looms

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System on Thursday approved a $473.1 million budget for the next fiscal year, taking a number of stopgap measures to push back an impending fiscal cliff that may necessitate service cuts in the future. The public transit system first detailed the brewing budget deficit crisis back in February, when its Board of Directors began discussing a possible rider fare increase or the introductio…

MTS approves $473.1 million budget, but faces future 'fiscal cliff'

San Diego Trolley downtown. (File photo by Chris Stone/Times of San Diego) The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System board on Thursday approved a $473.1 million operating budget that includes tens of millions in reserves and other funding to balance the spending plan. The newly approved budget fully funds current service levels on all four trolley lines and 92 bus routes. The approved budget also keeps 15-minute trolley frequencies enacted in Ja…