By Tim Barbalace and Faith Brissett
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writers
The Baltimore County Council introduced a bill Monday to phase out the controversial stormwater remediation fee that is assessed to property owners as part of the county’s state-mandated requirement to clean up pollutants that wash into the Chesapeake Bay.
The legislation, which is being sponsored by all seven council members, would cut the fee by one third on Nov. 30 and completely phase it out by July 1, 2017. Council members said eliminating the fee would make the county more business friendly while also reducing the extra cost to homeowners.
According to the county’s website, homeowners pay between $14 and $26 a year while industrial and commercial properties are charged $46 per 2,000 square feet of space. The county would lose about $16 million by eliminating the fee, the Baltimore Sun reported.
“I am really glad to see the council working together on this,” said Cathy Bevins, the council chairwoman. “Improving the business climate in Baltimore County by relieving them of this fee is not a partisan issue.”
“This helps businesses,” said council member Julian Jones, a Democrat from Woodstock. “It was becoming really detrimental to businesses, nonprofits and citizens.”
In 2012, the Maryland Legislature approved a bill that required the state’s 10 largest jurisdictions to establish stormwater remediation fees to help pay for environmental efforts designed to cut back on pollutants that wash off of parking lots, roads and roofs and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay.
The remediation fees immediately became a contentious issue around the state, with opponents calling it the “rain tax.” The Legislature voted earlier this year to drop the requirement that Baltimore City and the state nine largest counties assess the fee.
Council members said Monday that Baltimore County would be the first jurisdiction to repeal the fee. The county would still be required to manage storm runoff, but it would be able to do so through the regular budget.
“We have a strong desire to help the Chesapeake Bay and ensure that we have a wonderful environment for our family to enjoy,” said council member Tom Quirk, a Democrat from Towson. “For me, this bill continues to honor our commitment to the environment but pays for it out of our property taxes.”
Council members said they decided to introduce the bill because of what they called the suffering of small businesses.
“Meeting with more and more small businesses I realized the burden it put on them,” Bevins said. “I heard countless stories of how they couldn’t hire part-time employees because of the extra fees.” She added: “I haven’t stopped hearing about it since we passed it. Hopefully this will give businesses breathing room and room to grow.”
The council said it will use general fund revenues to make up for the money lost by the stormwater remediation fees. In addition, the council believes it will actually gain money in the long-term.
“With the rain tax being repealed, we think this will go a long way in attracting business,” said council member David Marks, a Perry Hill Republican. “We will continue to look for ways to make government more efficient for the taxpayers.”