Governor Wes Moore administration imposes 338 new or increased taxes and fees
Marylanders are understandably upset with the news of significant vehicle registration fee increases that the Democratic-led General Assembly passed earlier this year. Unfortunately, these vehicle fee increases are just the tip of an ever-growing iceberg – the new and increased taxes and fees under the Moore Administration.
Since the end of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Joint Republican Caucus in the Maryland General Assembly has worked to tally the number of tax and fee increases that have occurred since Governor Moore took office, either at his direction or through the actions of the Democratic majority in the legislature.
The number is staggering. It almost defies belief – 338 new or increased taxes and fees as of today.
Where do these tax and fee increases come from? For starters, 38 of these new or increased fees and taxes were the product of the 2024 Legislative Session. The General Assembly passed the Paint Tax, the Uber Tax, increases in the Cigarette Tax, and massive increases in vehicle registration fees – to name a few. While the Governor did not propose them, neither did he veto them. While we appreciated his original commitment to hold back some of the more egregious tax plans that his Democratic partners in the General Assembly were championing, he has now signed some of these tax increases into law.
Governor Moore’s Department of Transportation (MDOT) has the authority to increase parking fees at BWI without legislative approval. In the fall of 2023, MDOT included parking fee increases as part of its plan to close budget gaps. In May, MDOT confirmed that these parking fees would increase by 33-40%.
Overall, the vast majority of these 338 tax and fee increases came through regulation. In 2023, 250 new or increased fees passed through the Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR) Committee. There have been numerous increases in fees for occupational licenses – cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, and other professions, making it more expensive for Marylanders to simply earn a living. There is also a plethora of new fees – fees for letters of good standing, fees for changing your address with a licensing body, fees for copies, and so on. These increases come at the Moore Administration’s request through various government agencies.
In May, the AELR Committee received a request from the Motor Vehicle Administration for 43 increases in driver’s license charges and other fees. This is the first set of fees to come before the Committee this year, but in all likelihood, it will not be the last.
The AELR process, while technically public, is not very accessible to most Marylanders. In some respects, it is a process hidden in plain sight. Regulatory changes, including fee increases, are advertised in the Maryland Register. The Maryland Register, while available online, is not usually a publication that Marylanders peruse regularly. A regulation typically goes into effect 45 days after its publication in the Maryland Register, provided 30 of those days are used for a public comment period. The AELR Committee receives the regulation at least 15 days before it is published in the Maryland Register. While the Committee is tasked with reviewing the proposed change, they are not required to explicitly approve any change or new regulation. Members of the Committee can request a hold on a regulation for a public hearing, but this does not occur regularly.
With the way the AELR process is set up, the vast majority of Marylanders will not know a fee has been increased in regulation until they have to pay it. This is troubling when one considers the sheer number of fees created or increased through regulation.
As summer begins, the 2025 Legislative Session seems very far away. But Maryland still has a significant challenge as spending is projected to outpace our revenue and large budget deficits loom. It is unlikely that the appetite for tax increases has been satisfied, as Annapolis Democrats have shown little interest in scaling back spending to a more reasonable level.
From 2007-2014 the O’Malley Administration raised 84 taxes, tolls, and fees. We are only halfway through the Moore Administration’s second year, and they have already raised nearly four times as many taxes and fees. There is a limit to what Marylanders can absorb and a limit to what they are willing to accept. The hardworking citizens of our state cannot take any more.
Dear Govenor Tax Moore,
Do you not understand your “spend Moore, tax Moore policies are hurting the citizens of Maryland, which is now California east. Please understand there are limits to family budgets and when the government takes our hard earned money, we have less to spend on the basics of life, let alone the pleasures we deserve from working so hard!
Voters are not doing their homework, they are voting for the person who promises the moon, while behind the scenes their track record speaks for itself. You have an obligation as a voter to research candidates history, look into their special interests and see what they real stand for. Unfortunately, the majority seems to not put the effort in and this is what happens.
Wait til this piece of shit runs for president…God help us!!
I hope the taxpayers flee Maryland and leave it a socialist eutopia. This is what they want? This is what they should get!
I did not vote for this clown. This seems to be a trend in our dear country. Its happening in many states. People need to read history so its doesn’t repeat itself. This progressive liberal politics don’t work, soft on petty crime will make our youth the future terrorists of the world.
Worthless as tit’s on a bull! Why do people keep voting in the same 💩
He’s a dumb ass dumbocrat what do you expect!!????
I will see your comment and raise you DUMB REPUBLICANS. Go bow to your ORANGE 🍊 TURD!
What? I have to agree Kathy….we wouldn’t be in this predicament if Donald Trump was in office .., businesses would be flourishing …the citizens would have money to spend …and a government would already have more revenue…. Maybe the Democrats should stop wasting the taxpayer monies on nonsense & tightening their purse strings . think about that one!!!!!!!
Trumpsters are the Lowest Deplorable Americans on Earth.
Takes one to know one SNOWFLAKE!
Republicans aren’t the cure all, but the democrats are a cancer and destroy everything they touch.
What a BONEHEAD. Now you’re blaming TRUMP, 5E GREATEST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE US, for your stupid problem that you undoubtedly CAUSED??? Good Grief!
Thanks the idiots voters of Maryland u did it again now they and the lying Moore not only stuck it to us good patriots they and him also stuck it to u. When I think u are hurting us u are so dumb u don’t realize hurts u too👎👎👎we don’t deserve it but u all do!!🦅🇺🇸
Get a petition up and sign it and threw them all out !! And in nov 5 vote for the man that really cares about us and America. Here is a hint he can walk and chew gum. And put 2 sentences together!!🦅🇺🇸
100% agree!!!!
Why can’t retired Marylanders get some kind of tax break?
lso you must remember that any and all democrats have one thing in common…..they have never sen a tax they do not like and a tax that they do not want to raise!
Very Sad. I don’t think any of these elected officials are in it for the people. I just want to know how public servants make so much money. I wonder if they pay the same fees they charge us.
Just another way to break the public so they can start their socialist agenda it all ties in together, force people out of their homes, shutting down businesses cause they can’t afford them can’t afford new cars cause they’re too expensive getting rid of gas so you have to get rid of your car Washer dryer refrigerator heating system what’s the point? It’s a scam.
I expect that if any of the folks so crying out so much about these fees would explore how much the fees effect them directly, they’d discover it is minimal. It’s just when somebody screams out “TAX INCREASE” the knee-jerk reaction of the natural-born knee-jerkers is to get on board and portray themselves as victims of “communism,” even though the changes would probably not impact each individual much at all. So it goes.
Spoken like a true Democrat.
Ditto!!!
So I guess you feel that all and any taxes and increases are justified . The representatives do not have our interest at heart . They’re are bleeding us dry. We are heading toward a Socialist country ! Senior citizens don’t have a chance with this government . These DEMOCRAPS are ruining Our Great Country !!!
you sir are an asshole!! go fucking register your car now and see what “minimal ” cost is you pompous ass idiot. Another screwed up piece of shit Democrat with NO brains.
Just wait for the bill on Moore’s Redline project, not to mention the ever rising bill to fund Kerwin. As long as the democrats continue to have a supermajority control of the legislature and control of all of the other branches in government, don’t expect anything to improve. The fix was in with a gerrymandered legistative map and you can thank O’Malley for that not to mention voter apathy as demonstrated in the recent Baltimore City election.
It’s why I left the state. Too expensive to live in MD. It’s sad! Love the state of MD.
vote for a democrat and this is what happens.
That’s the problem. Voters who vote don’t listen to the candidates. Moore has a silly grin on his face and everyone thinks he’s the best candidate. There was a problem about him from the beginning about a book about him living in Baltimore. No one seemed to think that was important at the time. Now we are getting all these taxes added to our lives and WOW ! Everything changes how the people voted for him. Hogan never wanted Maryland to have all these taxes put on us. But the spending in Baltimore is so outrageous, we the people have to suffer. For the People that don’t think we will notice,Good Luck with that. How many people remember the RAIN TAX ???
Moore taxes, Moore fees, Moore money because of Kirwin Education 4 billion a year plan for 10 years. Moore deficit and no surplus! Ask yourself are you better under Moore or was Hogan a better Governor? Vote the platform and what is best for your life not the party!
It will make people move away from Maryland
DemonRats are Communist and this is what they do!
Sadly Marylanders continue to be slaves to the Democrat Party, they will continue to vote them in power no matter how bad they are screwed over. Sadly it won’t get better and democrats will shaft the middle class knowing they own the majority of them.
My God we’re taxed to death already. How are the working class and retirees supposed to pay? What are you the government keep taking more money from decent people. Next you’ll tax the air we breathe
They are already taxing the air we breathe through all kinds of environmental regulations.
No choice Vote Republicans Democratic party need to be punishment on the election date,
Until voters start paying attention to what their elected officials are doing and hold them accountable nothing is going
Until voters start paying attention to to what their elected officials are doing and hold them accountable nothing is going to change.
Obviously, Maryland had become the California of the east coast. Gavin Newsom is now a talented ventriloquist, and Wes Moore is the dummy on his lap.
Taxation without representation??? These types of taxes are the very reason our ancestors separated from England. When will our country get back to serving its citizens truthfully and justly?
There is always going to be a trade off. If you look at states with low taxes you will also find: inferior schools systems, unsafe roads and infrastructure, high unemployment, more crime, low property values, fewer public services and recreational activities, the list goes on. Check the data yourself. I agree MD has a high cost of living but it also has a better quality of life than MS, AL, FL, LA, most of TX, OH. Who do you expect to pay for better quality of life? Of course its the people that live and demand it. I don’t like it either but it’s better than the other options that a far less desirable. The difference that a teacher makes here and FL is $30k-$50k annually, hence the better education and opportunities. The nice life isn’t free.
Inferior school systems??? Have you looked at the test scores or graduation rates in the state. I moved to Delaware from Cecil county where I loved living, but the taxes were just too much. I kept asking what I was getting for my taxes. I paid for trash and had my own water and sewer. When I moved my property tax dropped by better than 70% along with my MVA fees. So keep voting in these folks and their social spending programs.
Md schools are a joke! What are you even talking about?