WATCHDOG LOCAL: Montgomery County creates $150k post for bus studies

Montgomery County is adding a new employee to manage two studies on a proposed rapid bus system — to the tune of $150,000 a year.

The County Council has approved the position in the county’s Department of Transportation as part of $500,000 to conduct studies of its proposed bus rapid transit system. Of that $500,000, about $50,000 will go to creating a manager position, which will be staffed in March. But once fiscal 2014 starts, the position will make $150,000 a year including benefits.