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Yesterday, the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority’s (GCRTA) board approved a 2010 budget that includes a projected $17 million drop in countywide sales tax revenue.

To balance the budget, the authority plans to reduce service levels by 12 percent and lay off 185 employees on April 4. However, GCRTA will maintain fares, including the $2.25 cost of a one-way base fare.

The service reduction “could still leave a $1 million budget imbalance that staff will work to resolve,” said GCRTA officials in a prepared statement.
 
The 2010 operating budget totals $225.9 million, down from 2009’s $246.5 million. The budget projects annual ridership at 50.5 million passengers, which would represent a slight increase vs. 2009 ridership.

The 2010 capital budget of $72.1 million is up a notch from 2009’s $64.4 million and doesn’t include $46 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds received by the agency, GCRTA said.