N.Y. Rapid Transit Law § 36-a

§ 36-a. Municipal operation; deficiencies. If the board of\ntransportation shall undertake or engage in public or municipal\noperation of any railroad pursuant to the authority of this chapter, the\ncity shall provide for the payment of any expenses of operation,\nmaintenance, interest, principal payments on indebtedness, contribution\nto sinking funds, and reserves on account of depreciation, to the extent\nand in the amount not provided for by the revenues derived from such\noperation. For such purposes such city shall, with respect to any such\nexpenses heretofore or hereafter not provided for by revenues derived\nfrom operation, use money raised by taxation. Nothing in this section\ncontained shall be construed to imply that the powers herein defined\nhave not heretofore been vested in such city by law.\n