BART approves $1.2B budget, but warns cuts possible without regional funding measure

BART has approved a $1.2 billion operating budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, assuming new funding will help the transit agency avoid deep service cuts as it faces a $375 million structural deficit.

The spending plan, approved Thursday by the transit agency’s Board of Directors, comes as pandemic-era emergency funds run out and ridership remains below pre-COVID levels. In a statement Thursday, BART officials said the plan assumes voters will approve a regional funding measure on the November ballot that could generate $74 million in new revenue during the fiscal year.