A new proposal co-developed by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s (MTC) Executive Director Andrew Fremier and Bay Area Rapid Transit’s (BART) General Manager Bob Powers would increase the budget for BART’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by 170 percent to $2.7 million annually.
BART and MTC have identified $1.7 million in ongoing funding that would be added to the OIG’s current budget of $1 million. This includes $600,000 from BART’s operating budget, as well as $1.1 million from the Regional Measure 3 toll bridge increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018.
BART and MTC staff will recommend the funding increase for final approval by both MTC’s Bay Area Toll Authority affiliate later this spring and by the BART Board of Directors as part of its annual budget adoption in June.
The passage of Regional Measure 3 (RM3) established BART’s OIG and provided an annual budget of $1 million. BART over the past several years has worked with MTC and state lawmakers who developed the enabling legislation for RM3 to identify a sustainable ongoing source of additional revenue to increase funding for the office.
“This new funding, if approved, will help bolster BART’s Office of the Inspector General. At the same time, we will be onboarding a new Inspector General,” Powers said. “BART is committed to ensuring a smooth transition and supporting the office with increased resources to help investigate waste, fraud and abuse complaints.”
“BART is an invaluable regional asset and strengthening the Inspector General’s office is a smart regional investment,” said MTC-BATA Chair and Napa County Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza. “As we work with the Legislature to help BART and other California transit agencies avert a looming fiscal cliff, it’s imperative that we do everything possible to ensure every transit dollar is spent wisely, efficiently and effectively.”
The BART Board of Directors has accelerated the recruiting process to fill the open OIG position. The board has interviewed candidates and will soon submit three names to the governor, who will appoint BART’s next Inspector General to a four-year term.
“I am thankful to BART General Manager Bob Powers and MTC’s new Executive Director Andrew Fremier for prioritizing new funding to support the independent oversight work of the Office of the Inspector General,” said BART Director Bevan Dufty. “BART stands to benefit from this new investment as we continue to look for opportunities to improve efficiencies in our programs and services.”
