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The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) fiscal-year 2008 budget doesn’t take effect for another six months, but the authority’s already seeking ways to trim it. Yesterday, WMATA announced it implemented a hiring freeze and will study ways to streamline the organization.

The hiring freeze is in effect for non-operations and non-police staff. The authority could hire operators, mechanics or police personnel, but administrative employees cannot be hired without approval by the new general manager.

WMATA managers also are reviewing all consulting contracts that total more than $100,000 and are not directly customer-service related.

In addition, John Catoe Jr., who will join WMATA as the new general manager on Jan. 29, plans to hire a consultant to analyze the authority’s organizational structure in an effort to streamline the agency’s business.

Earlier this month, WMATA proposed a $1.9 billion fiscal-year 2008 budget that includes a fare increase and job cuts.