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Next week, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA MTA) will hold a public hearing to present its proposed $2.86 billion fiscal-year 2006 budget, which is $153 million less than the current budget.

The authority has reduced general and administrative expenses — primarily by eliminating 133 full-time positions — but will need to hire 98 union employees (mostly operators and mechanics) because a new bus line will open later this year.

The budget includes $613 million for rail operating, construction and capital costs, including funds to begin construction on the Metro Gold Line extension to Little Tokyo, Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles. LA MTA also might break ground on the Exposition light-rail line to Culver City. In addition, the authority will provide a $57.9 million subsidy for the Metrolink commuter-rail network.