Anne Arundel's Stormwater Bill Continues to Evolve

Anne Arundel County councilmen pressed on through yet another public hearing on a controversial stormwater management bill that has some calling it a new tax for property owners.

The bill, sponsored by Councilman Chris Trumbauer (D-6th District), has seen more than 40 amendments since its introduction in January, as it continues to be debated openly by the public and county departments.

The massive bill would institute a new stormwater fee to be paid by property owners across the county in an effort to raise approximately $26 million annually. Under the proposal, the average home owner in Anne Arundel County would pay about $85 each year.

The money would be used to begin clearing decades of Chesapeake Bay pollution.

The fee is part of a state-mandated plan that asks Maryland's largest 10 counties to pitch in together to help pay for the Bay's cleanup.

Under new amendments approved on Monday, owners of churches will pay a capped amount of $1 per year. The measure is expected to quell the voices of pastors from across the county who came out Monday to speak against the bill. The amendment barely passed by a 4-3 vote.

In another amendment, the fee for commercial properties will be capped at 35 percent of their property tax bill, and will be phased in during the first year. Property owners will pay just 60 percent of their bill this year, which is expected to arrive in June. Councilmen said the measures were taken to soften the blow in this first year.

At Monday night's public hearing, supporters and opponents of the bill each got a say on the matter.

Patrick Madden, the general manager of the Westfield Annapolis Mall, said the bill asks too much of commercial property owners, who already are stretched thin.

"This tax comes at a time when many can ill afford it," he said. "Sequestration in particular has already had a detrimental effect on consumer confidence and will likely worsen in the coming months."

Small businesses would also be hurt by the bill, according to Cynthia Morgan, president of the Southern Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce.

"This bill will kill business in south county," she said. "It also creates an unfair competitive advantage for adjoining counties."

But not everyone saw the bill as detrimental. Eric Michelson, a representative of the South River Federation, said the county was long overdue to stand up and begin cleanup efforts.

"Everyone needs to do their part," Michelson said. "We can't continue to deny, deflect and delay this effort. We've really done that for way too long, and now it's time to get to work."

Councilman Derek Fink (R-3rd District) cast doubt on whether the bill could fully fund the cleanup efforts if it continued to trim fees. Deputy Director of Public Works Christopher Phipps said at this rate the department would have to find creative solutions to meet the funding goal.

"As it currently stands, we are not to going to reach our $26.5 million revenue projection on an annual basis," Phipps said. "It will be very difficult for us sustaining this perpetual loss in revenue to meet the 2025 goal."

Phipps also stated the fee would have to go up over time to compensate for the inevitable increases of other aspects of the county budget, such as debt service.

However, Trumbauer said he believed the bill was still in good shape, and was coming at the right time. It will just be harder to reach the goal in the future.

Councilman John Grasso (R-2nd District) was the most outspoken on the measure, recounting horror stories of the quality of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, including fish with tumors, and skin rashes.

"You don't have to be a bright person to understand that we've got a big problem here, and it only takes a coward to keep walking way from this problem over and over again just so they can get re-elected," Grasso said.

Councilmen worked through more than 20 amendments Monday, but the end is nearly in sight for the bill, with a vote scheduled for the Council's next meeting on April 15. A final public hearing will be held on the amended bill that same night.