ATLANTA — MARTA ended the 2026 fiscal year with a $92.9 million deficit, spending about 17% more than planned after overtime costs rose and fare revenue fell short during the transition to its Breeze 2.0 system. The fiscal year ended June 30. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Greg Patterson presented the figures to the MARTA Board of Directors, which reviewed the agency’s financial position at a recent meeting. Overtime was $18.2 million above budget, Patterson said. The largest pressures came from mechanical, bus and rail operations and MARTA police. He said the World Cup added to overtime but was not the primary cause. Police deployments beyond the tournament and the work needed to keep the transit fleet operating also contributed, he told the board in September. MARTA plans to begin monthly overtime reviews in fiscal 2027. Patterson said the agency had not previously maintained that level of regular oversight. The transition to the new fare system also reduced revenue. MARTA had forecast an approximately $14 million loss, but Patterson said the actual shortfall exceeded that estimate. The rollout included installation of new faregates, which remained open during the work. Capital costs — spending on construction and development projects — came in $42 million above budget, according to Patterson. The combined shortfalls left the agency with a net deficit against what had been a balanced budget. Separately, MARTA has said a clerical error led to a former janitor receiving $620,000 in overtime pay that was not owed. The agency filed suit against the former employee as it seeks to recover the money; the employee and the staff member involved in the error no longer work for MARTA. The reported payment error was disclosed in July, after the fiscal year ended. Board member Jacob Tzegaegbe called the financial update sobering and raised questions about the deficit and its year-over-year change. MARTA is reviewing its finances and has said it is taking steps to improve overtime monitoring.