Goodbye, Rain Tax: New Harford County Exec Proposes Repeal

County Executive Barry Glassman proposed legislation Tuesday to repeal Harford County’s stormwater remediation fee, better known as the “rain tax.”

State legislation enacted in 2012 required certain Maryland counties to impose a fee to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay in compliance with federal requirements.

“Harford County is committed to watershed protection and restoration, but the rain tax is not the answer,” Glassman said in a statement.

“Not only does it pile another burden on the backs of our hardworking citizens and local businesses,” he said, “regional disparities in funding stormwater remediation have put Harford County at a competitive disadvantage versus other jurisdictions.”

The 10 jurisdictions affected by the “rain tax” include Harford, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Charles, Frederick and Baltimore counties plus Baltimore City.

“Rather than continuing this unfair tax, we can meet our obligations using revenue from the county’s general fund with flexible credits and innovative planning,” Glassman said.

Governor-elect Larry Hogan has stated that he plans to review the law once he takes office in January.

In the meantime, the County Council in Harford will review the proposal from Glassman.

In 2013, his predecessor, David Craig, submitted legislation to repeal the rain tax as well. However, “despite serious concerns, Harford County complied with the law in 2013 by enacting a rain tax with rates that varied depending on a property’s use and ownership,” Glassman said, outlining the fees:

• A flat charge of $125 was applied for nonprofit organizations, improved properties with a residential (excluding apartment buildings) or agricultural use
• A $7 tax per 500 square feet of impervious surface charge was levied on properties with a business, commercial or industrial use, with some exemptions.
• Collection of the tax as a whole was limited to 10 percent of the amount owned pending further review. County revenue from the tax was approximately $1 million in each of the fiscal years 2014 and 2015.

See Also:

Harford County Executive Craig to Propose Rain Tax Repeal

Carroll County Won’t Absorb Rain Tax, Will Impose Absorb Mandated Fees

Baltimore County Business Leaders Decry Effect of ‘Rain Tax’