Anne Arundel taxpayers ultimately can choose to pay a storm-water fee as county officials decide between an “opt-in” and “opt-out” approach.
Opt-in would have taxpayers signing up to pay the fee ? $30 per house ? as part of their tax bill. If the residents do not sign up, they don?t pay.
Opt-out would have taxpayers paying the fee unless they signed a waiver.
“Now the question is how do you implement a voluntary fee,” said Alan Friedman, government affairs director for County Executive John R. Leopold.
Leopold had long opposed any kind of fee on current development, but appears to accept the opt-in method as a compromise.
But three Council members, who want a countywide fee, prefer the opt-out method, because it would make funding more stable for long-term projects.
“More people would likely contribute to an opt-out fee,” said Councilman Jamie Benoit, D-District 4.
County officials said the opt-out method will create administrative headaches through appeals and extra bookkeeping.
Officials are expected to meet next week to continue discussions.
However, some have warned that if favorable legislation is not drafted soon, it could fall to the wayside as other issues are expected to emerge in the coming weeks.
New tax credit available
The council approved legislation from Council Chairwoman Cathy Vitale, R-District 5, that will give residents a tax credit for curbing storm-water run-off from their properties.
Property owners, who use rain barrels and rain gardens, for example, can receive up to $10,000 of the cost of the installation for five years.
The county administration opposed the bill because the county would have to pay for the credit.
