MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) Interim CEO headed to the Memphis City Council Tuesday, June 11, asking for millions more in funding, despite a massive deficit.
MATA is facing a $60 million deficit and is unable to pay back a $20 million loan from the city of Memphis that's due at the end of this month. But that was not brought up by city council members.
Interim Mata CEO Bacarra Mauldin instead asked the city council for $30 million more from the city, and she refused to answer reporters' questions afterward.
In a statement following the budget hearing, Mauldin released this statement:
“Beginning with my first day as Interim CEO of MATA, I've promised transparency and a commitment to transform transit in the Mid-South. Although the realization of a $60 million deficit seems challenging, it's the reality that MATA and several other transit organizations across the country are grappling with, due to the rising costs of doing business and ridership shifts following the pandemic. Still, transformation is possible with innovation and optimization.
Over the next few weeks, we will begin thorough community outreach and engagement with our stakeholders to best serve our existing and future riders' current needs. Further, we'll work internally to prioritize roles and responsibilities that directly support service to those riders through redesigned accountability measures.
For the sake of transparency and to keep our stakeholders well-informed, we have made the recent audited financial information available. You can find these documents on our website at: https://www.matatransit.com/about/audited-financials/.
We will engage media to share further updates as budget decisions are finalized in the coming weeks.”
Concerned MATA riders were outraged following the meeting.
"That's not what we want to hear,” said Cynthia Bailey with the Memphis Bus Riders Union. “We don't want to hear about, 'We got you all, we support you all.' We want to hear about where is the money? Where is the money going? And how is it spent? It's a lack of transparency."
Citizens For Better Service and the Memphis Bus Riders Union released a statement saying they were not satisfied with MATA's budget presentation:
“The council did not question MATA about the $60 million deficit and its negative impact on bus riders,” said Bailey. “MATA should have been questioned about the $60 million deficit. The Memphis City Council should not let MATA off the hook. This is not good for the bus riders.”
"Both organizations will continue to urge the City Council to press MATA about the financial crisis and provide a plan to resolve the issue without hurting bus riders," said Johnnie Mosley, Founding Chairman of Citizens for Better Service.
“The Memphis City Council must send a strong to MATA that they are going to hold MATA accountable for past and future funding,” said Sammie Hunter, Co-Chair, Memphis Bus Riders Union.