Maryland advocates seek to extend Chesapeake Bay ‘flush tax’

Maryland legislators and environmental advocates are considering efforts to extend the life of the state’s ‘flush tax’ during the 2027 legislative session. Formally known as the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF), the fee was established in 2004 to combat water quality decline in the Chesapeake Bay caused by excess nitrogen and phosphorus.

Since its inception, the fund has raised approximately $2.3 billion, financing technology upgrades at 66 of Maryland’s 67 major wastewater treatment plants and 17 minor plants. These improvements are credited with preventing millions of pounds of nutrients from entering the bay, which helps mitigate low-oxygen ‘dead zones.’

The current fee structure, which includes a $5 monthly charge for homes served by wastewater plants and $60 annually for septic users, is scheduled to be cut in half in 2030. Advocates argue that maintaining higher funding levels is essential for continued environmental improvements and nutrient reduction efforts.