Mayor Eric Adams wants to cut losses at the city’s popular but money-burning ferry system by telling prospective operators to pitch new ways to earn revenue — including rentals, concessions and advertising.

City Hall on Wednesday published a “request for proposals” from potential ferry operators that specifically requires them to cook up a “revenue generation plan” that will put money in city coffers to offset the massive municipal subsidy that currently funds the service.

City taxpayers subsidize ferry trips at as much as $14.75 per ride, according to a recent audit by city Comptroller Brad Lander — even as the ferry’s wealthy clientele pay just $2.75 to ride.

Adams in July pledged to raise the base fare to $4 starting Sept. 12, while offering a 10-ticket package for $27.50.

Hizzoner has insisted the ferry is not just for the affluent, echoing claims by his predecessor Bill de Blasio, who expanded the service and instituted the $2.75 fare to match the cost of an MTA bus or subway trip.

Despite becoming mayor on a pledge to end a class divide he called a “tale of two cities,” de Blasio aggressively promoted the ferry service, which has a ridership with a median annual income between $100,000 and $150,000, The Post exclusively revealed in 2020.

Ferry trips previously cost $4 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Daily NYC Ferry ridership was just 11,688 on weekdays and 12,984 on weekends in the first three months of 2022. Summer ridership is higher, but only just returned to pre-COVID-19 levels, according to city officials.

Potential new sources of revenue include film shoots and private events, according to the request for proposals, which does not require any cost-savings from ferry operations.

City officials and outside experts have warned that too-high fares could discourage ridership and reduce revenue.

“Operationally, it doesn’t seem like much is going to change,” said Sean Campion of the Citizens Budget Commission. “They want to operate a more financially sustainable ferry system. They’ve addressed one piece of that by increasing the fares — and now they’re hoping to come up with new revenue ideas and a new private operating model that’s more cost-effective.”

Current ferry operator Hornblower plans to submit a proposal to continue operating the service, the company told nonprofit news outlet The City, which first reported on the RFP.

“Today, no other operator is better prepared to build upon the system’s early success and implement the vision to create a more equitable and accessible NYC Ferry,” said Hornblower CEO Kevin Rabbitt.