AC Transit riders may wind up paying for a judge’s decision preventing the transit agency from imposing a contract on its drivers meant to cut about $15 million from the budget. To make up that lost money, AC Transit is considering eliminating about half of its weekend routes, cutting almost all of its overnight service, and turning its paratransit service to a private company.

AC Transit spokesman Adam Alberti, speaking to CBS5 after a public hearing on the cuts Wednesday, admits the cuts are so deep that almost every rider will notice some difference in service. But he says, the choice is cut salaries or cut service.

“I think the service cuts are so deep that everybody will be impacted,” said Alberti. “Nobody wants to cut anybody’s salary, but at the same time nobody wants to cut service, and one of those things is going to have to give.”

AC Transit has averages about 55,000 riders on the weekends. Its board is now reviewing the proposed cuts.

A vote is set for September 27th for service reductions that would begin in December.

The agency is appealing the judge’s decision.