Nothing happens with the cash-strapped MBTA without a reference to money — absolutely nothing. Monday’s meeting of the Fiscal & Management Control Board was a case in point.

Outside of the routine business items, eight of the nine items on the public agenda had dollar signs attached to them, from a growing budget gap to the need to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a mandated safety system to potential layoffs to reduce the workforce.

And that doesn’t even include scathing remarks from the Carmen’s Union president who charged a push to save money by privatizing the so-called money room operations is actually costing money.

Of course it makes sense that a board with the word “fiscal’ in its title would focus on the money, but it also oversees management of the authority and, increasingly, the two are intertwined.

James O’Brien, president of the Carmen’s Union, which vehemently opposes privatization efforts, alleged the new system to collect cash from the T’s 323 fare vending machines, implemented by a consultant in advance of hiring a third-party to take over the operations, left some machines bloated with money and unable to accept new transactions. O’Brien claimed the mismanagement caused workers to open the gates and let riders in for free. He invoked the phrase that most terrifies accountants and lawmakers when it comes to the T.

“There’s no way to calculate how much money the MBTA lost because of this poor management,” he told the board.

MBTA officials denied O’Brien’s claim, but the charge was picked up by all the media at the meeting because anytime there is a shortfall – or even a perceived shortfall – of revenue at the public transit authority, it’s big news.

That was followed by the regular presentation from Acting General Manager Brian Shortsleeve, who also serves as the chief administrative officer, who said lagging sales tax is going to cost the T about $32 million in projected revenue, widening the deficit to $110 million for the fiscal year. And that, in turn, bled into a presentation by the human resources department that a recent reduction in workforce of 264 workers, of which about 150 will not be replaced, would still leave the T about 144 positions short in achieving a goal of $38 million in savings.

The earlier reduction was through voluntary retirements and buyouts but no one is ruling out layoff. “As we seek to close what’s a $100-plus million deficit this year, everything’s on the table,” Shortsleeve told reporters after the meeting. “About 75 percent of our costs are wages and benefits so that’s a core area of focus for us.”

Of course, no discussion of the MBTA is complete without a multi-million dollar project that has the potential to wreak havoc on the budget’s bottom line. Enter the Positive Train Control system, a rail safety system mandated by Congress for implementation by transit agencies around the country. The system is designed to avoid collisions and derailments as well as implement other safeguards for trains. But it comes at a cost of $460 million.

Officials put the happy face on an 80-20 federal-state split with the MBTA putting up $93 million and the rest federal funds. But what was glossed over is that $305 million of the $366 million commitment from Washington is coming as a loan that has to be repaid. So the MBTA will end up paying 87 percent of the cost, plus interest on the loans, even though the rate will be low.

With the $2 billion Green Line Extension still hanging in the balance, the ballooning cost of South Coast rail threatening that project, and billions needed in infrastructure and equipment updates, the agency is now looking at another $400 million commitment.

There was a sliver of positive revenue news as the board approved a contract to place solar arrays in 28 open parking lots and on the roofs of nine parking garages. The contract is estimated to bring in $51 million over 20 years in lease payments as well as some operational cost savings. Like everything else associated with the embattled agency, a dark cloud came with this silver lining. The agency received just one bid so there’s no way of knowing how much more they could have gotten with actual competition.

“We need to find out why didn’t we get more bids,” said board chairman Joseph Aiello, who cited another recent contract that drew just one bidder. “Is it lack of outreach? Or is it a residual hangover that we’re not a good place to do business?”

JACK SULLIVAN

BEACON HILL

Gov. Charlie Baker signs a pay equality law. (Boston Herald)

The energy bill: Winners and losers. (CommonWealth)

The Boston Herald’s take on the Legislature’s late-night finale: “This is a way of doing business that ought to be unacceptable to taxpayers and voters who pay for a ‘full-time’ Legislature that works part-time and even then blows its own deadlines.”

The Legislature overrides Baker’s veto of controversial Lyme disease treatment legislation. (Boston Globe)

Startups were frustrated as the House and Senate were unable to come to terms on noncompete legislation. (Boston Globe)

An economic development bill that passed Sunday night relaxes a number of liquor laws and should help the new Eataly at the Pru and the Nashoba Valley winery. (Boston Globe)

MUNICIPAL MATTERS

The organizers of Boston’s St. Patrick’s Day parade say the Walsh administration threatened to withhold permits if the parade did not include a LGBT group. (Boston Herald)

Springfield has paid $1.2 million to golf pro Kevin Kennedy, who may or may not figure in an FBI probe that came to light when federal agents swarmed a city-owned golf course. (Masslive)

ELECTIONS

Though spurned by the two more famous conservative rainmaker Koch brothers, Donald Trump will attend a fundraiser Saturday at the Osterville home of billionaire sibling William Koch, more well-known in this region for his opposition to Cape Wind. (Cape Cod Times)

Trump tweets kind words of thanks to the man running against House Speaker Paul Ryan. (Boston Globe)

As the controversy over Trump’s response to Gold Star parents who rebuked him at the Democratic National Convention continues to swirl, the New York Times takes a closer look at the GOP nominee’s student and medical deferments to avoid the Vietnam War.

A Libertarian takes a look at the Johnson-Weld Libertarian ticket to determine how seriously libertarian they are. Spoiler alert: Not so much. (American Spectator)

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse comes out in support of marijuana legalization. (Masslive)

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

General Electric files drawings of its new headquarters in Boston that mixes old brick buildings with a new 12-story glass structure that includes a “solar veil.” (Boston Herald)

A pair of contractors who dredged New Bedford Harbor for the Marine Commerce Terminal project are suing the publicly funded manager of the facility for $23 million, claiming the agency understated the scope of the work and the underwater obstacles. (Standard-Times)

The speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives called on the Attorney General and State Police to release all the information about the failed $75 million deal with former Red Sox star Curt Schilling and his video company, 38 Studios. The attorney general last week announced no criminal charges would be brought in the case. (Associated Press)

EDUCATION

UMass President Marty Meehan calls a proposed partnership agreement between UMass Lowell and the city “dead on arrival.” (Lowell Sun)

The New York Times takes a deep dive into the controversy over all-sex Final Clubs at Harvard and the fallout from the decision to restrict their members from participating in wider university programs and post-graduate referrals.

The Salem schools strike a partnership agreement with Americorps to improve English language learning. (Salem News)

A state audit reprimanded Cape Cod Community College for putting state resources at risk by failing to inventory $46 million in capital assets and not performing a required fraud risk assessment. (Cape Cod Times)

HEALTH/HEALTH CARE

U.S. News & World Report issues its annual Best Hospitals rankings, with Minnesota’s Mayo Clinic claiming the top spot while Massachusetts General Hospital drops to third. Brigham and Women’s Hospital dropped out of the top 10 to number 13. Boston Children’s Hospital ranks number 1 in pediatric care.

Sturbridge selectmen drop their opposition to a proposed medical marijuana facility after the owners not to expand to retail sales if the ballot question legalizing marijuana is approved by voters in November. (Telegram & Gazette)

State officials say critical staffing shortages at Pembroke Hospital could impede the facility’s ability to fix urgent problems cited by Department of Mental Health investigators. (Patriot Ledger)

TRANSPORTATION

Cab drivers say the ride hailing law passed by the Legislature Sunday night will drive them out of business. (Boston Globe)

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT

Tucked inside the energy bill passed by lawmakers over the weekend was a measure to create a citizens’ panel to oversee the decommissioning of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. (Cape Cod Times)

CASINOS

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is considering a new proposal that would allow thoroughbred racing at the Brockton Fairgrounds after the panel rejected an earlier request. (The Enterprise)

A federal Appeals Court decision in a separate case the day after a federal judge in Boston ruled against the Mashpee Wampanoag may hold hope for the tribe to build its casino in Taunton. (Cape Cod Times)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE/COURTS

Boston Herald columnist Joe Battenfeld reports that the CEO of Grand Prix reached out to US Attorney Carmen Ortiz in connection with her investigation of strong-arming tactics at City Hall in favor of unions.

A Hingham District Court judge dismissed two counts of lewd behavior against a 61-year-old Somerset man who liked to take nude midday strolls from his work in Hanover. The judge ruled it was not public nudity because no one in the public witnessed it; the nude walker was captured on a police camera set up to catch him. (Patriot Ledger)

A Gillette employee is arrested on charges of stealing shaving blades worth $209,000 and, with two accomplices, selling them on eBay. (Masslive)

A Hopkinton Board of Health member was charged with driving drunk with her children in the car and assault and battery on her husband and police. (MetroWest Daily News)

Worcester police responding to a fight involving 100 people at the Mambo Lounge are pelted with bottles. (Masslive)

MEDIA

Gawker Media founder Nick Denton files for bankruptcy after a judge refuses to stay an invasion of privacy judgment against him and his company. (Time)