Is transit system running on empty?

Two transit officials - one the former state treasurer - are challenging the purported size of Metra's budget shortfall as the agency pushes for a quarter-cent sales tax hike.

Metra officials have said the agency needs $60 million this year to keep the trains running as they do today. Metra is eyeing a 10 percent fare hike and service cuts in 2008 if lawmakers don't OK the tax hike, which also would fill budget holes at the CTA and Pace.

Yet, on Thursday, Regional Transportation Authority board members William Coulson of Glenview and former GOP gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka questioned whether Metra's shortfall is closer to $3.5 million.

"I consider it to be very creative accounting," said Topinka, the former state treasurer.

Topinka eventually voted 'Yes' on the budget after last-minute assurances that Metra's accounting will be more transparent in the future. Coulson was the lone 'No' vote.

RTA Director Steve Schlickman and other leading transit officials chalk up the dispute to "confusion" over complex budget reports and argue that Metra is indeed short $60 million.

In the RTA budget, Metra's shortfall is reported as $11.5 million in operations and about $49 million for one-time costs such as repairs, maintenance and system upgrades.

Under Metra's accounting procedures, the $49 million is actually recorded under operations because it is for repairs and maintenance needed to keep the system running as is, Schlickman says. The $49 million will be covered this year by canceling less-pressing system upgrades, and Coulson noted Metra is now $8 million ahead of budget due to record ridership.

At the CTA and Pace, their shortfalls are all recorded in the operations budgets.

"I'm a math major and the numbers just don't add up," Coulson said.

RTA Chairman Jim Reilly, however, argues that Coulson and Topinka misunderstand the budget reports. He said the $60 million shortfall at Metra is as real and pressing as the $110 million shortfall at the CTA or the $24 million hole at Pace.

"No matter how you cut it, their program will be $60 million less than it would have been if they got the $60 million," Reilly said.

The dispute follows last week's comments by Metra Director Phil Pagano that he is "sick and tired" of people thinking the agency can go without new funding.