Regarding The Sun's editorial on the stormwater management fee ("Carroll talks sense on stormwater," April 3), let's first explain Gov. Larry Hogan's position in my opinion. He proposed to get rid of the "rain tax," the legislature voted that down and proposed their own biased solution as offered by Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. The governor is quickly finding out that even though the public voted for a Republican to lead the state, the Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are not willing to cooperate unless they have some input so they can toot their own horns come election time. The governor is stuck with the "half a loaf is better than no loaf" decision.
Now, on to the stormwater runoff situation. You state "rainwater that picks up pollutants like oil, fertilizer, animal waste and the like as it flows over impervious surfaces like roofs, parking lots and roads and into streams, rivers and eventually the bay." I have a herd of deer, foxes, ground hogs and other wildlife that leave their scat all over my yard. I have yet to find any on my roof, driveway or walk. I also do not fertilize my roof, walk or driveway.
Second, there is not one county that does not have a river or stream that ends up emptying into the bay and yet only a few are the subject of this tax which is not even levied in the same way upon those subject to the tax. Government facilities, which probably have the most hard surfaces, are exempt by the way. Now here comes our proposal from the lawmakers in Annapolis giving exclusions to various organizations and hardship exclusions along with excessive reporting demands. Boats spill gas and leak oil into the Chesapeake Bay and I don't hear of any proposals to ban power boats or shipping. It is just another money grab from the people who will hurt the middle class more than anyone else, the same middle class everyone claims to be out to help.
Craig Garfield, Ellicott City