Mayor Bowser's 2019 budget proposes tax hike on Uber and Lyft rides to help fund Metro

WASHINGTON - D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has released her 2019 budget and part of the plan would hike taxes on Uber and Lyft nearly five times what they are now.

The proposal would increase the tax for rides originating in the District from 1 percent to 4.75 percent. The money would help pay for D.C.'s portion of Metro funding, which is $178.5 million.

Currently, a $10 Uber ride would cost you 10 cents in tax. Under Bowser's proposal, that $10 ride would cost you 47 cents. For a $50 ride, the tax would go from 50 cents to $2.37.

In a conference call Wednesday, Mayor Bowser said she believes people are willing to contribute for better public transit.

"Everyone benefits from a safe, reliable and functioning Metro - whether you ever get on the Metro or not," she said.

George Washington University students Joe Behun and Brett Else agreed.

"I think Metro is very convenient to have if it works properly," said Behun. "I do think it has a lot of problems so I wouldn't mind paying a couple cents extra on an Uber ride if that means we have a better working Metro."

"I think it's definitely a good idea because Metro has had so many problems in the past years and Metro is cheaper than Uber and lyft," said Else.

FOX 5 also talked to a group of American University students as they got out of an Uber.

"I think it kind of disadvantages people who need to get places where Metro is not accessible," said Jarrod Jeffcoat. "For me, I usually use Uber to get to work, which is not really Metro-accessible."

The mayor's budget is also calling for a sales tax increase from 5.75 percent to 6 percent, which is also for Metro funding.

D.C. council members received Bowser's budget and will make their changes before it is approved.