TransLink has halved its senior executive positions since 2009 as part of an organizational restructuring aimed at finding cost savings to pay for transit upgrades across the region.

Ten positions were cut last year, according to a 2011 year-end financial report released Tuesday.

CEO Ian Jarvis would not provide details on the managers who lost their jobs last year, saying only that they had worked at TransLink for between three and 19 months.

However, earlier this year, Michael Shiffer, who moved from Chicago three years ago to become TransLink’s vice-president of policy and planning, lost his job after his position was also eliminated.

The cuts, along with other changes, are credited with helping TransLink find $30 million in cost savings over the past three years, Jarvis said.

But he also noted the number of staff earning more than $75,000 annually rose in 2011, likely as a result of TransLink absorbing 102 people from Coast Mountain Bus Company — a move aimed at streamlining human resources and information technology.

Total staff salaries for 2011 were $48.9 million, according to Tuesday’s financial report, while employee expenses were $1.07 million.

Jarvis vowed to continue searching for more cost efficiencies through 2012. “Funding is our No. 1 priority within the organization now and we’re looking at all areas of the business,” he said. “We’ll continue with our own efforts, by trying to drive more transit fare revenue by allocating transit hours to more productive use.”

TransLink, which is the subject of a provincial audit, is under pressure to find another $30 million per year in savings so it can go ahead with transit upgrades across the region. The upgrades have been delayed after regional mayors refused to allow property tax increases to pay for them.

ksinoski@vancouversun.com