We are the 99%; no more taxes in Maryland | GUEST COMMENTARY

A gray cloud looms over Annapolis, with ominous black clouds on the horizon, foretelling an approaching storm. Positioned in Annapolis, renowned as the Sailing Capital of the World, legislators ought to heed the wisdom of sailors: It’s prudent to secure their rigging and stow away any items susceptible to damage or being swept away by the coming storm.

This is what’s going on with our Maryland state budget. Recently, there was a revenue write-down of $250 million. The revenue shortfall impacts the current budget, resulting in an expenditure exceeding the state’s income. That is a signal to look to the sky and see a storm is coming.

Over the last four years, the state budget has grown by a whopping 32%! In 2021, the total budget was $47.9 billion. The 2024 budget stands at $63.3 billion. Has your family’s income grown by almost 32% in four years? A budget that has grown exponentially faster than that of taxpayers, families, seniors and businesses cannot be sustained.

This storm can blow back out to sea. A good starting point would be to address the budget deficit through flat funding and reducing government spending where possible. Instead, Democrats in the Maryland House of Delegates are turning the storm into a full-blown hurricane. Their solution to the budget challenges is a massive tax increase. First, they proposed House Bill 1515, which expanded the sales tax to services, taxing everything that moves for an estimated $4 billion a year! It is genuinely a cradle-to-beyond-the-grave tax that even taxes people for their funerals. After a massive outcry against it, the sales tax expansion bill was revealed to be simply a distraction tactic, a “deep fake.” House Democrats substituted that for a $1.3 billion tax package, a cornucopia of taxes and fees that will hurt Maryland families and seniors on a fixed income.

Gov. Larry Hogan left our state in a healthy fiscal condition two years ago. He left a record $5 billion in surpluses, and the former Comptroller Peter Franchot even estimated the surplus to be $7 billion. Although that was mainly COVID money the federal government sent to Maryland, we must always remember that federal funds are still your tax dollars. Many had urged Governor Hogan to send that money back to taxpayers instead of leaving it for the next administration. Predictably, Gov. Wes Moore blew through that surplus in his first year.

Beginning in 2012, the statewide Gonzales poll asked a question about taxes: Do you think you pay enough, too much, or not enough in taxes? The 2012 responses showed that 96% of people statewide said they paid enough or too much in taxes. More than 61% of ALL respondents, regardless of party or demographic, said they paid too much in taxes, while just 4% thought they paid too little.

Fast forward through the years, and the number of people who say they pay enough or too much in taxes has continued to grow. Even in liberal Maryland, people want to avoid paying more in taxes. This same question has been asked five times, concluding this year.

In 2024, 99% of Marylanders asked by the Gonzales poll said they pay enough or too much in taxes! With inflation harming family budgets, the increased taxes and fees needed to support the bloated state and county budgets, and property taxes that continue to get higher, people have had enough. The results are clear. No more taxes!

Governor Moore balanced this year’s budget by fee increases, transferring funds from various balances, and taking money out of the Rainy Day Fund. Moore’s administration has raised more than 250 administrative fees that do not need legislators’ approval. Contrary to claims made by journalists in other area publications that Moore is not raising taxes, this year’s budget does include tax increases, a.k.a. fee increases.

The Tax Foundation tracks personal and business taxes and rate states against each other. Maryland is currently ranked 45th for the state and local tax burden on residents, and the state business tax climate is ranked 46th. Maryland needs to do more to attract good-paying jobs, and raising taxes and fees and increasing regulations will do just the opposite.

The state cannot tax its way out of this hole. We ask constituents from across the state to contact state-elected representatives and tell them to reject House Democrats’ $1.3 billion tax increase. We urge the lawmakers in Annapolis to join the 99% of Marylanders who say “no more taxes.”

Del. William Wivell (william.wivell@house.state.md.us) is a Republican representing District 2A in Washington and Frederick counties. Also contributing to this op-ed are republicant Dels. Matt Morgan (District 29A), Lauren Arikan (District 7B), Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki (District 7A), Robin Grammar (District 6) and Mark Fisher (District 27C).