A Maryland county is offering churches a way out of a state tax that charges them for paved surfaces on their properties: preach on environmentalism instead.
The tax — called a fee by Gov. Martin O’Malley and supporters who won its passage a year ago — is aimed at collecting from homeowners, businesses and churches based on the percentage of “impervious surfaces” at their properties, as a means of protecting the Chesapeake Bay from environmental degradations and runoff, The Washington Post reported.
Republican Gov.-elect Larry Hogan vowed to repeal the so-called “rain tax,” a promise that helped propel him to victory in this month’s election.
But Prince George’s County thinks it has found a solution for churches. The local governing body told churches in the county that pastors, preachers and those of the cloth could avoid paying the tax — if they preach on green issues.
So far, about 30 have agreed to begin “green” ministries at their churches that help educate their flocks on the good of environmentalism, The Post reported.
Prince George’s County’s Department of Environment director Adam Ortiz told WBAL Radio that churches “don’t have to preach, per se,” but conceded that churches could opt out of the tax if they “provide educational programs to teach [parishioners] about how to be more sustainable. And to help them engage in grant programs and other ways that they can control the runoff from their property.”
The tax to churches averages out to about $744 per facility.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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