Committee prioritizes audit of Muni proof-of-payment program after public support

The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted on June 2 to direct the Office of the Budget Analyst to review the Municipal Transportation Agency's proof-of-payment program and assess the effectiveness of transit fare inspectors and station agents in preventing fare evasion.

Sponsor staff presented the item and acknowledged the Budget Analyst's limited bandwidth during budget season but sought the review as a priority. Deborah Newman of the Budget Analyst's Office agreed to place the review on the office's priority list to follow the ongoing Communities of Opportunity audit and noted another audit (the first offender prostitution program) was already queued.

Public commenters supported the review: Douglas Yap said the city was losing revenue to fare evasion and urged the Board to proceed; another commenter asked for more Muni service in his neighborhood. The committee removed language tying the review to the Board's 2008'/2009 budget deliberations and instead set the audit as a priority after the Communities of Opportunity review. With that revision, the committee forwarded the item with recommendation and adjourned.