BART Chooses Layoffs Over Fare Hikes — for Now

BART directors decided to lay off some employees and eliminate vacant positions rather than raise fares and cut service in order to help close a $25 million budget hole in this year’s budget. However, the Chron reports that the board may be forced to raise fares and slash service later this year to bridge another projected $25 million budget gap in the 2010-11 fiscal year budget, beginning July 1. In yesterday’s vote, the board voted to eliminate 74 positions, but 55 of those are vacant, meaning that the agency will at most lay off 19 employees.