If the numbers continue to trend downward and no one comes up with other revenue ideas, the MTA a fare hike next year is possible.
"It's mostly about the economic downturn. This is to do with revenues from real estate taxes and the other taxes from the MTA," said MTA spokesman Jeremy Soffin.
This news comes just three months after the last fare hike.
"It's too soon to know if there will be a fare increase. Most of the numbers in the story we've put out in the past few months. We are $80 million behind on where we should be on the revenues. But it is too early to draw any conclusions. The governor has appointed a commission to look at the MTA's financial issues. We are still hopeful that things can work out this year," said Soffin.
The MTA will next report its monthly budget numbers at a June 25 board meeting. The MTA puts out a preliminary budget in July, when anything definitive about a fare hike plan would be released.
That budget would have to be approved by the end of December.
