ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland Senate is nearing a vote on ending state-mandated stormwater management fees.
A vote could come Friday on the bill, which is sponsored by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller.
Currently nine counties and the city of Baltimore pay the fees, which critics call the "rain tax."
The bill would not require counties to charge a fee to meet federal stormwater requirements to clean up pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. However, they would have to show they can meet the requirements.
Gov. Larry Hogan had proposed his own repeal of the fees, but the bill was defeated by House and Senate committees. The Republican governor has said he's not concerned whose name is on the bill, just so long as the fees are no longer mandated by the state.
