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Hogan’s Rain Tax Repeal Begins in Committee

March 6th, 2015 by WCBC Radio

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan's legislation to repeal the so called rain tax got a hearing this week in Senate and House  committees. The bill would no longer require Baltimore City and the state's nine largest counties to collect the stormwater management fee on paved surfaces to pay for water pollution projects. Business owners and some local government leaders testified in favor of the repeal. The Senate hearing took place less than 24 hours after the Baltimore County Council voted to cut that county's storm water management fee. Harford County repealed it earlier this year. Carroll County is using existing resources to raise the money for these projects. Baltimore City, Montgomery and Prince George's Counties collect the fee. Leaders of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and other environmental group are testifying against the bill. They say current law forces counties to spend money on reducing pollution flowing into the Chesapeake Bay.  Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman will testified for the repeal of the 'Rain Tax' in Annapolis. Acknowledging that the funding has to come from somewhere, Kittleman said his opposition is the state mandating how it be done…                                           





 

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