Transit Task Force To Push For Property Tax Hike

ROCKVILLE, Md. (AP) -- A task force is expected to argue that Montgomery County must raise property taxes to help pay for expanded bus transit.

The task force was appointed by Democratic County Executive Isiah Leggett. For the past year, it's been researching how to implement a network of express bus lanes across the traffic-choked county.

The task force is expected to release a report on its findings next month.

Task force members and county officials tell The Washington Post that rapid bus transit is the cheapest way to move commuters along its congested corridor. The task force concluded that a property tax increase was a better option than income or sales tax hikes. State and local contributions are expected to reduce the property tax increase but not to eliminate it.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)