SEPTA to hold public hearings on $1.28B budget

SEPTA will hold public hearings next week on its proposed $1.28 billion operating budget for the year that starts July 1.

The spending plan represents an increase of about 4 percent from the current $1.23 billion budget. Most of the rise is attributed to increased labor and health-care costs.

The budget anticipates no fare increases or service cuts. But to balance the budget, SEPTA plans to use the remaining $58 million left in its rainy-day fund.

Hearings will be held at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday at SEPTA headquarters, 1234 Market St.; 10 a.m. Thursday at the Montgomery County Human Services Center, 1430 Dekalb Pike, Norristown; 2 p.m. Thursday at the Government Center Building, 201 W. Front St., Media; 10 a.m. next Friday at the Bucks County Free Library, 150 S. Pine St., Doylestown; and 2 p.m. next Friday at West Chester Borough Hall, 401 E. Gay St., West Chester.

The budget is available at SEPTA's website, www.septa.org/reports. - Paul Nussbaum