SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering a plan that would require businesses with 20 or more employees to create programs to pay for their workers to use of mass transit. The payments would cover MUNI passes, BART fares and van pools. "It's a win win," says Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi. "It's one of those rare opportunities where the scorecard lines up well for everybody." But some people don't share Mirkarimi's vision. "You have to commute to any job so it's not fair to make any company pay for you to get to work," explains Marina Gallo, a Starbucks manager. "You do that anyway."

The measure would require companies to set up their own programs. It would be paid for through a payroll deduction system that would enable each employee to use up to $110 each month in pretax wages to pay for mass transit. There already are some businesses with a similiar program that's referred to as a "commuter check.: San Francisco's program could save workers 40% of their transit costs and companies would save on payroll taxes.

City officials say some companies have expressed concerns about the program, saying it would not be fair because they would only offer the benefit to San Francisco employees and not to employees in other cities. But supporters say it would be a good way to cut down on traffic. "We don't like mandates but we do think the idea behind the legislation is very good as far as getting people out of their cars," says Rob Black of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the legislation next Tuesday. If it passes and Mayor Gavin Newsom signs it, companies will have until next August to comply.