ATTLEBORO - The head of GATRA and a local lawmaker are at odds over whether major cuts in local bus service that the regional transit authority plans to make as soon as next month are really necessary.

Despite mounting protests against the reductions from riders and area officials, GATRA, as early as March, is planning to stop all service at 6 p.m. on weekdays, eliminate two routes in Attleboro and North Attleboro and end Saturday service on two other city routes, GATRA Administrator Francis J. Gay said in a statement released late Friday night.

The cuts will save GATRA more than $700,000, according to Gay. About 22 percent of that money will be saved by cutting Attleboro routes. The transit service also is considering other changes, according to its Web site.

Confirmation of the proposed cuts comes in advance of two public hearings Tuesday about the cuts, scheduled for 10 a.m. at Attleboro City Hall and 2 p.m. at the North Attleboro Senior Center.

Gay put responsibility for the cuts squarely on the shoulders of state lawmakers. "These cuts have become necessary due to decreased funding from the state Legislature to regional transit authorities," he said. "State funding for GATRA operations has not kept pace with even inflation costs."

But in an interview Saturday evening, state Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, questioned why Gay is threatening service cuts now.

Any reductions this spring would be premature since the state budget won't be finalized until June, said Timilty, who serves on the Legislature's transportation committee.

Moreover, Timilty said he was "incensed" at the GATRA chief for blaming legislators without bringing his concerns to them first.

"I don't know why he gave this comment to the (media), as opposed to working with us in the House and Senate to come up with a formal funding schedule," Timilty said. "I would have preferred to have maybe discussed this at length ... before announcing disruptions."

Rising costs, deepening debt and low ridership have plagued the Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, which provides public transportation services to 650,000 riders in 24 area cities and towns, including all 10 Sun Chronicle communities. Many of its riders are elderly, disabled, or low-income.

Timilty acknowledged that GATRA faces challenges, and that some reductions may be impossible to avoid in a tough budget year. "We're staring down the barrel of a recession," he said.

Still, Timilty suggested he might offer an amendment to the budget bill to reduce the GATRA cuts.

The two routes in Attleboro that GATRA is planning to eliminate are No. 15 (Oakhill) and No. 17, the shuttle to North Attleboro. Saturday service would be cut for Route 16, which runs from Attleboro to Seekonk, and Route 24, which runs from Attleboro to Pawtucket.

Along with the public hearings on Tuesday, citizens can offer their comments through Feb. 22 on the cuts either by calling GATRA at 508-226-1102 x 263, or by writing to 10 Oak St., 2nd Floor, Taunton, MA 02780. TED NESI can be reached at 508-236-434 or at tnesi@thesunchronicle.com.