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.
Well, someone has to pay for the ‘free cheese’.
I agree with everyone who stated that the governor should be reading these documents coming across his desk. The taxes going up on cars, food, apartment rents people having to pay $2500 to $3000 a month is ridiculous. I agree that Marylanders have and are still suffering from COVID. People still do not have jobs because the unemployment period has ended. You file for jobs and never hear from any of the hiring companies. There are people homeless in Maryland and every state. You have seniors who do not have enough money to purchase medicine, buy food, or pay any bills (that are necessary). You have a Supreme Court that has gone rogue. Congressional representatives want everyone to go back to the 1930-1940, that is not going to happen. We are in dire straits and all need to work together and write letters to the Governor and make him realize that he is no longer in the Military but running a state of citizens, not military soldiers. We all pay for our country to be safe and free – from these racists, fiery dictators who want to run the world into a deep hole!
Nailed it, the people that wanted him thought he would be good for Maryland and would help them somehow. I remember watching how people would rally around him and cheer for him to be governor. No one is cheering now and we in Md are paying the price for how some voted, I guess they will never learn.
You need to go back to the Biden bunch and stay there
We’re living hand to mouth now and you’re going to try to finish us off
You need to go back where you came from and let us have Hogan back. We got alone ok with him considering what he had to go through with Biden and Obama so why not go back where you came from and leave us alone.
Don’t worry – he’ll do a few more Justin Trudeau type appearances, a few push ups on Instagram to show everyone how he is in shape and the lemmings that voted for this clown will be praising his name as the next rising star of the Democrat party soon enough.
With all the tax increases and everything else, we seniors are going to become homeless. We worked so long and hard to have comfort and now we wonder how are we going to make it.
Well, Moore for Maryland means MOORE taxes and fees. Nobody would listen and he did EXACTLY what they said he would do. This is why people are leaving??
Nailed it, the people that wanted him thought he would be good for Maryland and would help them somehow. I remember watching how people would rally around him and cheer for him to be governor. No one is cheering now and we in Md are paying the price for how some voted, I guess they will never learn.
Moore needs to go. People barely afford food and housing bur hell he doesn’t care he is living free in that state house
Long time Democratic voter will be voting for Republican governor this next time
A copy of this letter should be mailed to all those who voted for our new Governor. Probably wouldn’t mean anything to them, same story different verse. Democrats, wow!!!
I understand we have to raise taxes but not so high, Also as a senior I having trouble living on my social security I get food stamps but not enough to for a month they have taken some things from the seniors already. Help the seniors the ones who work all there life and paid taxes. If you tax Mr Moore not so much at once people if Maryland are having hard times.
Raise all these taxes but with minimum wage being what it is,these tax increases will run some marylanders into the poorer house come on.How can we change poverty if we make it harder to get away from poverty
You all get what you voted for. This will not change because Maryland is a blue state.
Agree with the negative tax comments, but Maryland does have unlimited abortion. How can any state thrive without this basic freedom? Men could be made to pay a “tax” for 18 years.
@ Marc – keep it under wraps and that should not be a problem
Not sure why you’re so scared of so-called maga, under so-called maga policies, the country was in much better shape, The world wasn’t at war, and our Southern border was closed. Now, with far left policies, we took a surplus in Maryland, wasted it on little progressive pet projects that did nothing for the actual tax paying population. Now, they’re going to tax the hell out of us. Your fear is unfounded.
Can’t agree more. Thank you.
This is a response to the irresponsible spending done during his first year. He will be a one time governor leaving the state vulnerable to a Maga.
Maga can’t be any worse than this crook
You all get what you voted for. This will not change because Maryland is a blue state.