Tax Hike

Maryland wants more of my money. It may not seem like a big tax increase being presented, but how much money does the state need? I am the so-called wealthy American who must pay more in taxes. Well I pay plenty of taxes so my politicians can yuk it up in their sky boxes. I pay 23.5 cents per gallon in gasoline taxes per fill-up. That's about $400 per year for two cars. I paid $300 in tolls to get to and from work. There was $41 to park for meetings in Baltimore, $180 to register my car, $1,600 in miscellaneous school fees (field trips, sporting events, uniforms, yearbook, prom, homecoming)

With the stunning end to Maryland's General Assembly, many have opined of the need to raise the gas tax in the anticipated special session ("Baltimore gets stranded," April 17). Supporters state that the "business community" overwhelmingly favors such an increase. Notably, many in the "business community" that favor the gas tax represent businesses that do not actually own vehicles. As a representative of the trucking industry which delivers the food, clothing, medicine and other goods Marylanders use, I can tell you that such support among businesses is hardly universal.

Editor: I am very proud to serve in the legislature and it has been my pleasure to represent the people of District 35A in the House of Delegates. At the time of this writing, the session is quickly coming to a close. Like last year, we have been dealing with the continuing financial woes of the State. I championed greater reductions in spending and I fought all attempts to increase taxes, including hunting and fishing fees, boat registration fees, and on and on. The biggest one came early this session when the Governor insisted on a tax hike on the price of gasoline.

A budget plan moving through the House of Delegates calls for an income tax increase of less than half the size of the hike passed by the Senate last week and would spare taxpayers who make less than $100,000. A House committee approved amendments Monday to the Senate tax bill that would have raised about $473 million in order to avoid deep cuts to programs suchh as education and health. But the House plan calls for deeper spending reductions and would raise about $200 million in new revenue each year.

Did the editors of The Sun ever meet a tax increase they didn't like ("Pay now or later," March 14)? If the taxes that are collected for transportation were spent on transportation, there would be plenty of funds for transportation and no need for a gas tax increase. Instead, this fund has been repeatedly looted to support the ever-increasing state government. Unfortunately, with the Democrats' stranglehold on state government, we will pay now and pay later. The solution is obvious - except to Gov.Martin O'Malley and The Sun - reduce spending.

Senate Thomas V. Mike Miller, a longtime proponent of raising revenue for transportation projects, said it is unlikely that the General Assembly will pass Gov.Martin O'Malley's plan to increase gasoline taxes this spring and suggested trying again at a special session later this year. In remarks after Tuesday's Senate session, Miller said that once legislators have dealt with the hefty tax increases proposed to balance O'Malley's budget, he doubts lawmakers will be willing to consider another big tax hike.

Baltimore County is bracing for another tough budget year, delaying new construction and improvements to infrastructure while looking for other ways to save. But County Council members and County Executive Kevin Kamenetz's administration say they don't plan to raise taxes to bring in more revenue. The county has not raised property taxes for 23 years, said Kamenetz's chief of staff, Don Mohler. Its income taxes haven't risen for 19. Kamenetz hopes to continue that run, Mohler said.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake launched her campaign to repair Baltimore's long-neglected schools Monday, introducing a bill to more than double the city's bottle tax as part of a plan to borrow hundreds of millions of dollars to fix dilapidated buildings. "This is something that we can use to help change the landscape when it comes to the physical needs for our schools," the mayor said of the tax. "Our kids deserve better, and sometimes it takes tough decisions to make sure that we provide a way forward for a better school system.

The first 45 days of the General Assembly session were dominated by talk of marriage. The theme for the second half is shaping up to be money - and there's not enough of it. Thursday's Senate vote approving same-sex marriage in Maryland came on the eve of the halfway point of the annual 90-day session. Now legislators are turning their attention to the budget, and how exactly they will close a projected $1 billion deficit. "It feels like we are starting a second session," said Del. Guy Guzzone, a Howard County Democrat.

Editor: All right, this is it. I have truly had enough. I cannot figure out how anyone in their right mind would think that a gasoline tax would be beneficial in any way to Marylanders. The poor and downtrodden already are having a difficult time finding and maintaining a job. How is making the "getting to it more difficult" going to help anyone? Should Marylanders sacrifice food and/or shelter so that they can get to work, only to come home to a box because they can't now pay rent or a mortgage?