The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District Board of Directors is considering a proposal to increase the tolls on the Golden Gate Bridge which would fully solve the remaining $91 million five-year shortfall.  The shortfall has been reduced by 80% since 2002 by means of toll and fare increases, major bus service reductions, a 22% staffing reduction, salary freezes, employee benefit reductions and more.

Tolls are used to operate and maintain the Bridge and to support Golden Gate Transit (GGT) regional buses and ferries which significantly reduce traffic levels on the Bridge. Local bus service in Marin is funded by the Marin County Transit District who contract with GGT to operate much the local service so that passengers can easily move between the integrated local and regional services. The District is funded in four major ways: tolls (54%); transit fares (13.6%); grants and service contracts (19.4%); and other sources such as gift center sales, property leases, advertising, and investment income (9.3%).  The combined operating and capital budget for Fiscal Year 2007/08 totals $157 million.