A rookie Toronto MPP has laid the issue of TTC fare increases and service cuts at the feet of the Liberal government.

Jonah Schein (NDP-Davenport) is calling for a return to the pre-1997 funding arrangement in which the province paid half of TTC operating costs.

Service cuts and fare hikes — whether 10 cents or 15 cents — are not the appropriate answer for working people who choose greener transportation, he told the Star.

“A big part of the budget crisis at city hall has been created under this (city) administration. But a big part of it is structural, with the province,” Schein said.

His comments came the same day the TTC released a report recommending city councillors on the transit commission approve a 10-cent fare hike that would bring the cost of a token to $2.60 and return the system to 2004 service standards on 62 bus and streetcar routes. The increase would be applied to all fares except the $3 cash fare.

The TTC is also recommending a10-cent fare hike in each of the next three years, which would raise at least $30 million a year — enough to eliminate the anticipated 2012 and 2013 operating shortfalls and reduce the shortfall in 2014 and 2015.

City staff are expected to release a briefing Friday advising the city budget committee on the impact of committing to the TTC’s $404 million 2012 operating subsidy for the next three years and suggesting it endorse the 10-cent increase in each of those years.

If the city made those commitments, TTC vice-chair Peter Milczyn has said he might consider a one-time, 15-cent fare increase for 2012 to raise an extra $15 million — enough to keep the threatened service.

That would also be conditional on the city finding $93 million to pay for 108 extra buses and a garage, to ensure the TTC wouldn’t be short of vehicles next year. It cancelled an order for the buses earlier this year, assuming service would be cut.

Councillor Gord Perks (Parkdale-High Park), who suggested last month a 15-cent fare hike would be preferable to slashing service, said Thursday he would prefer to use an expected end of year surplus to fund transit operations. He also criticized Mayor Rob Ford for failing to push the province harder for TTC operating funds.

“The mayor put all his chips around his deal for subways,” said Perks. “Any reasonable person would have said, ‘We have ongoing operating problems. Those are the real priorities.’”

A survey at thestar.com shows readers split on whether they’d prefer a fare increase to maintain service levels. At midday Thursday, 44 per cent of respondents had said 15 cents is too much because the TTC is already too costly.

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But 42 per cent said they might pay more if the service were better. That includes 28 per cent who said they would pay 15 cents, but only if the service would be maintained beyond 2012. Fourteen per cent said they would be willing to pay $5 if it meant fewer delays and cancellations.

An additional 14 per cent said they would simply stick with their cars.