Every year brings more new taxes, fees, and tax increases in Maryland. This year is no different. The most well known is the new gas tax. The gas tax will rise from 23.5 cents per gallon to 27 cents per gallon, an increase of nearly 15%. And it gets better! The gas tax will increase every year through at least 2016. I think I heard that by 2016 a gallon of gas in Maryland will be $4 billion.
Of course, the gas tax increase will boost the revenue stream intended to replenish the Transportation Fund. This, of course, is what Maryland politicians raid when they need more money to spend on pet projects. The problem is that O'Malley nearly depleted the fund and now there is not enough money to buy buses or pretend to build new subway lines. O'Malley has spent $868 Billion from the Transportation Fund in the past 7 years. Once replenished, there will be plenty of money for Governor O'Malley or the future Governor Tony Brown to raid and spend on windmills in the ocean or checker Eastern Shore with state-owned solar panels.
In addition to the gas tax increase, O'Malley and his zombie cohorts in the Maryland General Assembly have raised the tolls on Maryland's bridges and tunnels, not to mention they starred in the new hit zombie television show (I think). The two harbor tunnels increase their tolls by 33%, going from $3 to $4 per pass. The Susquehanna River bridges, both I-95 and Route 40, also increase 33% from $6 to $8, though O'Malley's fellow travelers only have to pay those tolls one way. Finally, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, or more accurately, the William Preston Lane Memorial Bridge increases 33% from $4 to $6, and the Harry Nice bridge, which is Route 301 over the Potomac River in Southern Maryland, also increase 33% fro $4 to $6.
Another lesser known tax is that people seeking to rent motorcycles in Maryland will now pay a 11.5% tax, an increase of nearly 92%.
Welcome to Maryland! What's in your wallet?
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