Gov. Cuomo wants his budget director, Robert Mujica, named to the MTA board so badly that he’s working to change the law so Mujica can legally serve, The Post has learned.

Because Mujica lives in Columbia County near Albany, he is ineligible to serve on the MTA board under a statue stating that member must reside in the 12-county downstate region that the authority serves.

Cuomo is hoping he can talk the state Legislature into amending or eliminating the statute. But a senior Democratic aide admitted the change is going to be a “heavy lift.”

“I understand what he wants to do, but it’s not a good look,” said Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), who chairs a Senate MTA committee.

Another city Democrat signaled she, too, needed convincing.

“Does the current statute restrict the best and the brightest? That’s a conversation we have to have,” said Staten Island Sen. Diane Savino.

Good-government groups said Mujica’s qualifications aren’t worth ending the residency requirement for.

“The board residency requirement is the law for good reasons and has worked for decades,” Reinvent Albany Executive Director John Kaehny said. “The MTA board should be people who ride the MTA and pay MTA taxes.”