Big tax hike for public transit could be on its way

Approving a big tax increase is rare in an election year. Still, legislators took the first step Wednesday toward hiking the sales tax for mass transit by a quarter-cent for every $1 purchase.

 

That would increase average current transit taxes by 42 percent — and generate an estimated $91.5 million more per year by 2016. Officials say the Utah Transit Authority would use funds from that to improve bus service, attract more customers and help reduce air pollution.