The Ravitch Commission, charged with recommending funding measures to help close the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's budget gap, will release its report to Governor David Paterson Thursday morning.

The commission will deliver the report in the governor's office. The report will reportedly call for tolls on the bridges over the East and Harlem Rivers, as well as a corporate payroll tax to help minimize the transit agency's proposed fare hikes and service cuts.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg will also be present at the commission's presentation.

The MTA faces a $1.2 billion deficit next year and has asked for fare and toll hikes of 23 percent in a "doomsday" budget proposal.

Paterson weighed in on the MTA budget for the first time Wednesday, saying he initially feels the Ravitch report's recommendations were helpful.

"I'm not going to say until I've really looked at the whole report, but as an alternative to a fare hike, I think it's very viable," said the governor.

He said the state is not aiming to overburden anyone, but fare hikes or tolls, along with the possibility of payroll taxes, are necessary because of the fiscal crisis.

Paterson also cautioned that inaction would be a bigger mistake than the proposed MTA fare hike.

"It's the inaction in the past that's led to this overwhelming deficit at the MTA, in state government, in city government," said the governor. "And we, who are here at this time in service, are trying to address it."

The MTA has also proposed eliminating local and express bus routes and two subway lines.