Citing debt and higher employee benefit costs, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is considering increasing ticket prices for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and New York City subway.

A vote by the MTA board on the proposed fare hikes is expected in December. Under the proposal, LIRR fares would rise an average of 6.5 percent. Discounts for monthly tickets would be reduced from 5 to 3 percent.

As for the subway, two different plans are under consideration. Scenario one would eliminate the 20 percent discount for MetroCards, while increasing weekly and monthly rates up to 8 percent. Single rides would remain at $2 during peak hours, but fall to $1.50 at off-peak times.

The other subway proposal would hike single-ride fares to $2.25 at all times. Weekly and monthly cards would cost 4 percent more, and the 20 percent MetroCard discount would remain unchanged.

Tolls would also be raised for bridges and tunnels. EZ Pass users would pay 25 cents extra and those who pay cash would be charged an additional 50 cents.

MTA board member Mitch Pally isn't quite ready to charge commuters more.

"I'm not yet convinced that now is the appropriate time to implement something," Pally said.

Angelique Conde, of Hicksville, purchases a monthly LIRR pass for $200 and doesn't believe a fare hike is warranted.

"I get broken trains, trains without heat in the winter, trains without A/C in the summer," Conde said. "Occasionally the lights will be on, occasionally they're not. So for $200 you would expect better, and we're not getting it."

To watch the extended interview with MTA board member Mitch Pally, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.