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Some thoughts on Development in Montgomery County Maryland |
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Montgomery County Maryland is suffering from an overburdened road system [1] and an overburdened school [2] system. Fortunately the county has a low unemployment rate. [3] This year the county raised tax rates in several areas to provide important services to the citizens of the county. The transportation and overcrowded schools are the most immediate and difficult problems. One immediate solution may be to institute a development tax of 10% of the sale price of the all new homes that sell for over $100,000 and an additional county wide sales tax of 5% on all homes sold for over $200,000. Until such taxes are enacted the county should impose a moratorium on all dwellings except those that are both close to mass transit and will sell for under $100,000. Close can be defined as within two miles of a metro station or within a quarter mile of a bus stop. The county should emphasize building a transportation
infrastructure for those within the county. Major artery transportation,
such as I270 widening and another The short term solution to the overburdened schools is to build more schools and reach a point where schools run at 95 to105% capacity. Over the longer term, the county government needs
to be clear with county residents that the federal and state governments
are not living up to their responsibilities to provide infrastructure.
The state of These are problems the county is facing, which should receive our immediate attention. [1] In the last election the County executive ran on a platform for improving transportation. Traffic gridlock is a common problem throughout the county. [2] Most schools are at over 100% capacity and with over 110% capacity more likely than not. The situation gets worse every year.
[3]
Unemployment rate for the state of
[4]
Locally the
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