Countywide : OCTA Adopts Budget Totaling $602 Million

The Orange County Transportation Authority’s board on Monday adopted a $602-million budget that includes the elimination of 72 jobs.

The budget for fiscal 1995-96 is balanced and includes funding to complete construction of the interchange of the Santa Ana and Costa Mesa freeways and the widening of the northbound Santa Ana Freeway in Anaheim. The $239-million cost of the widening accounts for more than one-third of the budget.

Operating funds for a commuter rail line to run twice a day between San Bernardino and Irvine are also included in the budget. Transit officials said the service will begin in October.

Some board members expressed concern over the authority’s plans to spend $77 million on salary increases. Under the new budget, which goes into effect July 1, management employees will receive a 2% pay raise, while non-management employees will get a 3% raise. The budget also includes funds for merit increases.

“I think we should be trying to put some hold” on the pay increases, County Supervisor James Silva said. And Supervisor Marian Bergeson questioned approving pay increases forOCTA’s remaining 1,512 employees when other Orange County workers are not sure when their next raises will come.

The salary increases were approved, however, along with the rest of the budget.

Most of the income--$224 million--for the new budget will come from Measure M funds. Bus fares account for only $30 million, but transit officials said existing bus operations will continue. A 4% increase in bus ridership is forecast for next year.

The board also received an update on the widening of 9.5 miles of the Santa Ana Freeway. The transit authority has to buy 550 residential and commercial properties for right of way before construction can begin.