Governor Cuomo’s veto of the Transit Lockbox Bill (S.3837/ A.5084) sends the wrong message to New Yorkers who ride buses and trains, and who seek fiscal transparency. The veto means that taxes and fees dedicated to public transit will remain extremely vulnerable to budget raids. The Transit Lockbox has the support of hundreds of civic and business groups, and it passed the legislature unanimously. The public and the legislature recognize that diverting specially-dedicated transit funds to plug budget gaps is simply wrong.
The Transit Lockbox is solely a transparency bill. It creates a “diversion impact statement” which details how the diversion of transit funds impacts service, safety and maintenance for transit systems across the state.
Supporters of the bill would like to thank State Senator Marty Golden and State Assemblyman Jim Brennan for their hard work championing this bill.
The following 200 plus New York State transit, good government, business, budget watchdog and labor groups support the creation of a Transit Lockbox for transit dedicated funds.