July brings about many things to Maryland, including trips to the beach, Camden Yards, and the local pool. Turning the calendar from June to July also brings changes to Maryland tax law, increasing a variety of state and local taxes and fees.
Gasoline Tax. July 1st starts the phase in of a 3% sales tax (with 1% starting on July 1st) on the price of gasoline. This phase in will continue over a three year period and could be increased to 5% by 2016. In addition to the sales tax on gasoline, the gasoline excise tax will be indexed annually based on the CPA. This will lead to a 3.5 cent per gallon increase beginning on July 1st.
Toll Increases. Effective July 1st, tolls for several bridges and tunnels will increase.
| Facility | Old Toll | New Toll[1] |
| William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge | $4.00 | $6.00 |
| Gov. Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge | $4.00 | $6.00 |
| Baltimore Harbor Tunnel | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| Fort McHenry Tunnel | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| Francis Scott Key Bridge | $3.00 | $4.00 |
| JFK Memorial Highway | $6.00 | $8.00 |
| Thomas J. Hatem Memorial Bridge | $6.00 | $8.00 |
Stormwater Restoration Fees. During the last legislative sessions, several counties (including Frederick) were required to institute a storm water utility fee. While each county has several categories with various prices, the chart below outlines some of these fees in general terms.
| County | Fee |
| Anne Arundel County | $85 per 2800 square feet |
| Baltimore City | $18 per 1050 square feet |
| Baltimore County | Prices range from $21-$69 depending on size of property |
| Carroll County | $0, as the Carroll County Board of Commissions voted to use other county funds to offset this fee. |
| Charles County | $43 per property owner |
| Frederick County | $.01 |
| Harford County | $.70 per 500 square feet |
| Howard County | $15 per 500 square feet of impervious surface |
| Montgomery County | $88.40 per 2406 square feet |
Bottle Tax. Effective July 1, the Baltimore City bottle tax will increase from $.02 per bottle to $.05 per bottle.
[1] New and Old Toll Rates are based on Cash/Base Rates for 2-axle vehicles. A complete list of all rates can be found at: http://www.mdta.maryland.gov/Toll_Increase/documents/Public_Notice_05-2013.pdf
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