In Maryland, the government has decided to tax residents for the privilege of having rain fall on their property. For the past 5 years, Maryland has taxed residents for simply having a roof over their heads. In order to comply with EPA regulations, the Maryland State legislature has implemented a “rain tax.” According to Forbes,
“This tax is an annual fee on impervious surfaces such as roofs, driveways, sidewalks, garages, and any other surface that could create drainage problems and water contamination situated on property owned by an individual or a business.”
Because of the nature of this regulation, it only affects nine counties and the city of Baltimore; making them responsible for paying the fee. Along with being intrusive and frivolous, the “rain tax” is implemented differently in each county. This makes it difficult for Marylanders to correctly follow the law. For example, Charles County levies a flat fee of $43 per property, while Montgomery County has fee rates ranging from $29.17 to $265.20 depending on size of impervious surfaces.
As previously stated, the rain tax has been implemented in order to comply with an EPA regulation, a $7.7 billion project mandated by the federal government. This leaves the people of Maryland paying into a fund for something they did not even vote for.
There is hope for tax payers in the Bay State. Governor Hogan announced a plan earlier this month to repeal the rain tax. Because the mandate falls under federal jurisdiction, even if the rain tax is repealed, the Maryland legislature would have to find an alternative way to fund the EPA’s nanny state regulation.