The Budget Committee has just advanced HART’s operating budget without amendment. Chair Ann Kobayashi had suggested that all but 14 of 142 budgeted positions in the budget be cut. If that ends up being the council’s final decision, it would neuter the project by firing dozens of rail staffers.

“What we’re doing is putting our trust in the new director,” Kobayashi told her committee members. “There’s still another bite at the apple … we can certainly make revisions then.”

The unamended budget advanced without objection, though rail swing vote Tulsi Gabbard said she had reservations. The bill goes back to the full council for second reading, then comes back to committee again.

New HART chief Dan Grabauskas faced council members for the first in a public meeting, and managed to convince them he’d take a hard look at frivolous expenses, public relations spending and office rent.

He said he intends to initiate his own personal review of HART’s finances and will make sure the agency has “a lean and mean budget” for the coming fiscal year.