Met is mulling an out-of-towner fee

The Metropolitan Museum of Art wants to paint over its red ink with a fresh coat of green — the money-losing institution is eyeing plans to charge tourists a set admission price.

The Met is trying to turn around a multimillion-dollar budget deficit and is in talks with the city to adjust its pricing scheme so that out-of-town art lovers cover the shortfall.

Mayor de Blasio said Wednesday he’s open to a fee, joking that some tourists could certainly afford it.

“If it’s properly implemented to specifically reach non-city residents, yes, I think that would be fair,” Hizzoner said at an unrelated press conference. “I’m a big fan of Russian oligarchs paying more to get into the Met.”

The museum wouldn’t say how much it would charge. It currently has a pay-what-you-wish admittance fee, but suggests visitors kick in $25.

Museumgoers are already balking at such a high price for high art.

“That’s a lot of money. I wouldn’t pay it. It should be less than that,” said Yovita Li, 25, a marketing manager from Indonesia who said she had just waltzed into the museum without paying a dime.

Visiting New York is expensive enough without having to pay to see a few Monets, she added.

“It’s pricey everywhere,” said Li. “To enjoy the arts, it should be free. Everyone comes to New York to enjoy its art. The city has an obligation to show what they have.”

The museum already receives $26 million a year in taxpayer funds, while sitting rent-free on public Central Park land, but the instituinstitution still faces a deficit of around $15 million.

DirecDirector Thomas Campbell was forced to resign from his $1.4 million-lion-a-a-year post in February amid criticiscriticism that the museum sank further into the red during his tenure,ure, ddespite record attendance. TheThe MetM has laid off 34 employees and bobought out 50 others. SoSome visitors say they’re haphappy to pay if it helps the nattion’s largest art museum get back on its feet — and tthey don’t mind locals gettting a discount.

“This is slightly supported by taxes, so New Yorkers are already paying. If they have to charge more to maintain this world treasure, then whatever it takes,” said Hal Rossiter, 70, a formermer MMidtown resident living in Connecticut.

The Met acknowledged that a tourist tax is on the table, but said discussions are in the early stages.

“We have not submitted an official, detailed request,” it said in a statement.

That’s a lot of money. I wouldn’t pay for it. . . . To enjoy the arts, it should be free. . — Yovita Li (right), 25, a marketing manager from Indonesia, on a possible $25 fee to enter the Met