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The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) has proposed a fiscal-year 2012 budget that include $414 million for operating expenses, $186 million for capital costs and $144 million for debt service.

The proposal calls for a 50-cent base fare increase from $2 to $2.50, as well as weekly and monthly pass price increases. The budget also calls for no merit or wage increases for non-represented and represented MARTA employees for the fourth consecutive year.

To be presented at public hearings May 16-17, the spending plan is focused on long-term financial sustainability, transit service preservation and state of good repair, new measures and bus route enhancements, agency officials said in a prepared statement.

Despite recent projections that show increases in MARTA’s sales tax over the next 10 years, the agency’s finances have been “negatively impacted by the overall economic downturn,” MARTA officials said.

“With no new funding sources on the horizon this fiscal year, MARTA is proposing these changes now to avoid any additional service cuts and to ensure metro Atlanta’s prospects for expanded regional transit in the future,” they said.