‘Cats’ $cratch against Lhota

The gloves came off at a GOP mayoral forum yesterday when John Catsimatidis suggested Joe Lhota might hike taxes because he was at the helm of the MTA when it raised bridge and tunnel tolls.

"It comes down to whom people trust not to raise your taxes, not to raise the tolls," the supermarket mogul said after he and Lhota got into an argument about who bore responsibility for higher fares and tolls.

"Cheap shot, John, cheap shot," responded Lhota, who has spoken out repeatedly against tax increases.

The forum, at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, sponsored by the city's five chambers of commerce, was supposed to focus on business development.

Robert Miller

Joe Lhota

It drew a sparse crowd of about 75 in a hall capable of seating 350 and was largely uneventful until the discussion turned to the fare and toll hikes instituted in March.

Lhota said the increases were set in motion in 2009 when the state cut funding to the MTA and laid out a schedule for higher fares every two years going forward.

"It's got to stop," he declared. "There is nothing that suppresses economic development more than . . . what it costs to go from one borough to another."

Lhota said that while he drove down expenses during his tenure at the MTA, he couldn't contain pension costs, which increased by 17.5 percent, or health costs, which went up 10 percent.

"Those two items alone were what was necessary to provide the increase," he explained.

Catsimatidis, who trails Lhota in the polls, was ready to pounce.

"I think, Joe, when you were there — I love you dearly, you know that — you should have put your foot down and said no increases," he argued. "That's what you call leadership."

Lhota came back, saying he staved off layoffs by presenting a balanced budget. "I thought the point of this whole debate is about jobs," he said.

George McDonald, the third Republican contender, took that as his cue to get into the fight.

"It's about the tolls being too damn high," McDonald nearly yelled. "That's what it's about. And who raised the tolls before he left the MTA? My friend Joe. I think he said it was an act of political courage."

Staten Islanders, who comprise a disproportionately large share of GOP voters, have been complaining for years about the cost of crossing the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The one-way cash toll is now $15.

On other issues, the three Republicans — including George McDonald — plus Independence Party candidate Adolfo Carrión, generally agreed. There was unanimity even when it came to keeping the city's controversial bike lanes.

Of the four contenders on stage, it was Lhota who took the strongest swipes at the Bloomberg administration.

He charged that the administration wasn't prepared for Hurricane Sandy and recalled that when the mayor visited the Rockaways on one occasion, he had to be whisked away "for his own safety."

McDonald, whose Doe Fund has numerous contracts with the city, told Lhota that wasn't accurate.

"I don't know why you have to take a knock at Mayor Bloomberg after Sandy," McDonald said.

david.seifman@nypost.com

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