PITTSBURGH -- Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and the Port Authority board are asking the county controller to audit the agency and provide financial oversight.

They all warn that the 15 percent service cuts coming in June will still leave a huge deficit if other needs aren't addressed.

"This isn't over by a long stretch," said Onorato. "This is just the beginning of trying to fix this agency. And because of the legacy costs, because of the imbalances that exist, we have a lot out there that has to happen yet that we don't have total control over."

"We're worried about not having enough money to pay the bills, to pay the payroll as it comes due," said board member Joan Ellenbogen. "And the cuts that we made last Friday will get us up to September."

Onorato said past Port Authority boards resisted his efforts to do a transit audit when he was county controller.

On Friday, the Port Authority's board of directors approved a 15 percent service reduction to begin June 17.

Scaling back its original projections, the Port Authority last week released new recommendations for slashing bus and trolley service -- but warned that more cuts could be coming.

Instead of a 25 percent cut, the Port Authority will now reduce service by 15 percent. CEO Steve Bland said the change was based on riders' feedback and comments made at public hearings.

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