Politics & Government

County Council Considers Changes to Bag Tax

Should the county's bag tax be altered so that it applies only to bags from food stores?

This article was written and reported by Patch editor Laura L. Thornton.

Tired of the bag tax? Well, a part of it could be altered at some point in the near future.

On Tuesday night, June 18, at 7:30, the Montgomery County Council held a public hearing on proposed changes to the county's five-cent tax on carryout bags, according to an email from the council's office.

The Proposed Bill 10-13 would limit the bag tax, so that it would apply only to bags from food stores.

"The bag tax, which went into effect last year, is now in place for most retail stores and carryout food. The changes would make the tax apply only to food stores, which are defined as any retail store where food consists of more than 2 percent of gross sales by dollar value," WTOP reported.

Since the bill went into effect a year ago last January, the county has taken in more than $2 million in bag taxes. Bag tax revenue currently goes toward solid waste management, watershed restoration, litter pickup and stormwater management. Retailers keep a penny from each bag, Patch reported.

County Council Members Roger Berliner (D-Bethesda), Craig Rice (D-Germantown) and Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) proposed the changes to the bag tax in May, Patch reported.

Are you in favor of changing the bag tax so that it applies only to bags from food stores? Tell us in the comments.


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