You pee, you poo, you pay. That’s the saying behind a new $30 annual flush tax in Maryland, the proceeds of which will be used for, among other things, upgrading the state’s sewage treatment plants, which has turned everyone’s toilets into pay toilets.
Needless to say, many Maryland residents are quite upset. One county treasurer reported receiving “thousands of phone calls” after the county sent out tax bills this month.
The new Maryland “flush tax,” a $30 fee that generates money for the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Restoration Fund, will be collected for the first time this year. It was seen as a major piece of environmental legislation for Gov. Robert Ehrlich.
It is expected to raise $60 million to $70 million a year to upgrade the state’s 66 major sewage treatment plants to reduce the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus that pollute the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways. The money also will be used to upgrade septic systems and fund a cover-crop program that encourages farmers to plant crops that absorb nitrogen.
Owners of property with buildings on them, whether they use public water and sewer systems or septic tanks, must pay the fee.
“People are coming in here saying, ‘I have a two-hole outhouse, I’m not going to pay you.’” [Charles County Treasurer Jerome] Peuler said. “We have a saying around here: ‘You pee, you poo, you pay.’ The three P’s, you know?”
Instead of charging property owners for something that did not yet exist on Sept. 30 tax bills, Charles County billed septic system users separately, setting off as many as 1,000 calls on some days, Peuler said. Next year the fee will be a part of the regular property tax bill.
Garrett County was “bombarded” with calls after billing 10,335 well and septic users in October, said Wendy Yoder, director of the county’s financial services department. Some callers flatly refused to pay, but Yoder says she’s encouraged that only about a quarter of those billed did not pay. — Associated Press
That’s right, everyone’s toilet in Maryland is now a pay toilet.
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Newsvine
Dec 13, 2005
Danny Carlton -- alias "Jack Lewis"
Michael Friend
Aug 15, 2006
Maryland citizens had better wake up and get rid of “Flush Tax”
Ehrlich and his phony cronies who conjured up this abomination of
a tax. Its time to “Flush” these delegates and senators who
presumably are in office to serve the people of the FREE STATE
but instead serve only their own special interests.
I am a one issue voter this year. If you voted for the flush tax then
I will vote against you. And if you will not work to repeal or refuse
the flush tax then I will not vote for you.
r.schrock
Nov 05, 2006
can you tell me who voted for the flush tax. I live in washington county
.Is there a repeal in now? maybe they should used the money from the
lottery, instead fo dumping it in the statium in baltimore.
Shan
Aug 22, 2007
I am interested to know if the author has actually looked into why the Bay Restoration Fund is not fair? Does he/she know anyting about the environmental issue surrounding this fee?
Daniel
Sep 02, 2010
I have tertiary syphilis.
r d mack
Dec 09, 2011
I understand this tax will be increased to $90.00 next tear, instead of being repealed . god bless our electid officils