The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved a balanced budget of $1.7 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2023 that begins July 1.
The approved budget makes significant investments in public transit – totaling approximately 52 percent of the overall budget – and makes improvements to Orange County’s freeways and streets to keep the county moving safely and efficiently.
Overall, the FY23 budget represents approximately a $48 million increase over the previous year’s budget. By comparison, last year’s budget rose by nearly 30 percent, after two years of budget cuts largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FY23 budget anticipates a moderate increase in sales tax receipts that help fund transit and other transportation projects through the voter-approved Measure M half-cent sales tax from transportation improvements administered by OCTA.
“I’m proud of the work we’re doing at OCTA to continue delivering a balanced budget that benefits Orange County residents, workers and visitors,” said OCTA Chairman and Mayor of Yorba Linda Gene Hernandez. “With this funding plan, we successfully demonstrate that we remain responsible stewards of taxpayers’ dollars while providing a safe, reliable and sustainable transportation system for all.”
Other themes of next year’s budget include:
- Sustaining the current level of bus operations despite exhausting federal relief funds
- Ongoing investment in zero-emission buses and infrastructure to support the ongoing conversion to a full zero-emission fleet
- Delivering on the projects and programs promised through Measure M
- Continuing to support Metrolink service at 90 percent of pre-pandemic service levels
- Advancing planning studies for longer-term solutions to protect the coastal rail line
- Making significant progress toward completion of the OC Streetcar project
Measure M will continue to fund improvements to freeways and streets throughout Orange County, along with multiple transit and environmental programs.
The FY23 budget encompasses all services, projects and programs that are administered by OCTA.
