Budget problems have forced the Centre Area Transportation Authority to consider several service reductions during University breaks and on weekends.

The proposed $2.87 million budget for fiscal year 1991-92, which is a 2.53 percent increase over the current budget, may also retain the 85-cent fare that was enacted to combat high gasoline prices during the Persian Gulf crisis. CATA accepted a draft budget Monday, but the final budget will not be approved until May or June.

A decrease in federal and state aid during the coming fiscal year has prompted the fare increase and service cuts, said CATA General Manager Kevin Abbey.

While CATA Board Chairman Jim Miller attributed the proposed changes to a lack of federal, state and local financial assistance, he said some routes were changed for efficiency purposes.

Miller emphasized that the proposed changes are not definite and invited the public to comment at a public meeting. The next one takes place at the authority's board meeting on April 29.

If approved, the planned service changes will take place in July. They include:

-- The Town Loop would operate with one less bus on Saturday morning and will eliminate service on Sunday. There will be no Town Loop service when the University is not in session.

-- The Campus Loop would operate with one less bus on Saturday morning but will continue Sunday and Summer Semester service.

-- The WP Route would no longer service Hills Plaza, 2121 S. Atherton St., or K mart Plaza, 100 Valley Vista Drive, after 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and all-day Saturday. The WP service to Boalsburg on Saturdays would also be eliminated.

-- The H Route, which services Toftrees and Heritage Oaks, would also be eliminated Monday through Friday after 7 p.m. and all-day Saturday.

-- The R and RE Routes would merge to offer 10-minute service during high ridership morning hours and 20 minute service for the remainder of the day. The combined routes would be eliminated during evenings and on Saturdays.

-- Expanded ES service is planned to pick up some dropped services from the H and R Routes.

-- Three of the X Route trips may be eliminated because the Bellefonte Borough Council refused to supply an additional $3,000 in funding. The trips are the 6:55 a.m., 8:55 a.m. and the 5:43 p.m. routes. The council will hold a public meeting on the proposed changes on April 25.

-- The CS Route would operate as a commuter service, but the 9:40 a.m., 10:40 a.m., 11:40 a.m., 2:40 p.m. and 3:40 p.m. trips would be eliminated.

-- The A Route would add service to College Park Apartments and Campus.

-- The F Route would become a commuter route with no Saturday service and would include a 9 a.m. and 4:50 p.m. trip to CATO Park.

-- An M Route would be added to provide service to the Nittany Mall Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The route would include Pugh Street, Foxdale Village Retirement Community, 500 E. Marylyn Ave., and the University, and would run directly along the Benner Pike.