The King County Auditor's Office released the second part of its audit of Metro Transit Sept. 15, and members of the King County Council did not try to downplay its significance.

"One-fifth of bus service will be gone if we don't recognize these savings," council member Reagan Dunn said. "That's why this is important."

"We must take a look at this audit to keep as much service on the streets as possible," council member Larry Phillips said.

The audit has found potential annual savings of $31.7 million, potential annual revenue increases of $51 million, and potential one-time savings of $105 million to deal with Metro's projected $213 million deficit.

The portion of the audit released Tuesday focused on Access paratransit, transit police and changes to staffing practices.

Access paratransit, which provides transportation for the handicapped, is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. But, auditors said Metro is operating above and beyond what is required by the act.

For example, auditors said Access, which costs the county $40 per trip, only charges riders $1 while the act allows for double the fixed fare (currently $1.50).

Dunn said he is reluctant to try to mine Access for savings because it provides an important service, and there are savings to be found elsewhere.

Auditors found that costs for transit police have doubled over the past 10 years due to the change from using off-duty Seattle Police Department staff to full-time staff from the King County Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office staff costs more because they require the benefits, including a personal car, of full-time employees and are still not covering outlying Metro areas as expected, auditors said.

Metro Transit staff accounts for one-third of Metro's budget. By making changes to the county's labor agreement with them, Metro could save $3.7 million per year, according to the audit.

For example, the current labor agreement does not allow part-time staff to work on weekends.

New procedures for vehicle maintenance and emergency communication were also discussed as part of the audit's second half.

The auditors released the first half of the audit Sept. 1. It focused on bus driver break time between trips, replacing the aging electric trolley fleet, and removing discount fares for youth and seniors.

Auditors said their overall findings point to a need for expanded and improved use of planning and analysis.

Kevin Desmond, Metro director of operations, said the department agrees with the audit recommendations for the most part and will move forward with most of them over the next two years.

But, Desmond said additional resources will be needed to realize the levels of planning and analysis recommended by the auditors.

Metro has reduced their planning resources over the past decade in order to focus on maintaining service levels in the face of declining funds, he said.

Desmond said Metro was forced to make $40 million of non-service-related cuts, mostly to planning and analysis functions, since 2000, when the vehicle excise tax was removed.