Leggett: Kids Can Still Ride Free In Moco

Students will still be able to ride public buses for free in Montgomery County, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) said this afternoon, reversing his position on a proposed cut to the current budget.

The county executive's comments came during an interview on WAMU with Kojo Nnamdi. In response to a caller concerned about the popular Kids Ride Free program, Leggett said, "We reversed that two weeks ago and that will not go into effect. We will not institute that cut."

That came as a surprise to Leggett's spokesman Patrick Lacefield and to at least some council members who discussed the proposed trim at yesterday's council meeting.

After checking with Leggett following the interview, Lacefield said that the county executive had decided a couple weeks ago that "the juice wasn't worth the squeeze" and had expressed his thinking privately to some council members.

Some 3,000 students travel for free on Metrobus or Ride On each weekday after school. Leggett's proposed cut would have saved $25,000, as the county tries to overcome a projected budget shortfall.