Assemblyman Karl Brabenec (R,C-Deerpark) today joined his colleagues in the Assembly Republican Conference to call for a comprehensive forensic audit of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). The move follows years of wasteful spending, fraud and inefficiencies that have plagued the agency and cost taxpayers billions.
“The MTA is a joke of an organization and its continued mismanagement is taking a toll on New Yorkers,” said Brabenec. “Billions have been lost due to unpaid tolls, fare evasion and unchecked overtime expenses. Despite efforts at reform, the MTA’s lack of accountability is evident, and the time for action is now. We need an independent audit to restore transparency, improve efficiency and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used wisely.”
In 2024 alone, the MTA spent $1.4 billion on overtime, with many employees earning more in overtime than their regular salaries. From 2021 to 2024, the MTA lost more than $5 billion in unpaid tolls and $700 million in fare evasion.
The proposed legislation (A.6088), introduced by Assemblyman Ed Ra, would require the MTA to hire an independent accounting firm to conduct a thorough forensic audit. The audit will examine financial mismanagement, identify redundancies and offer recommendations for improving governance and efficiency at the MTA.
“Hardworking New Yorkers are paying the price for an agency that repeatedly fails to manage its operations effectively,” Brabenec added.
Assemblyman Brabenec represents the 98th District, which includes the city of Port Jervis, the towns of
Deerpark, Greenville, Mount Hope, Wawayanda, Minisink, Warwick, Tuxedo and portions of the towns of Monroe and Ramapo. For more information, please visit his Official Website.
