Maryland’s new paint fee sends professional painters to Pennsylvania to buy supplies

MARYLAND (WBFF) — For professional painters in Maryland, a new fee added to every gallon of paint is changing how and where they buy supplies, with some saying they are now crossing state lines to avoid higher costs.

Dianna, a professional painter, said the state’s new $1.15 fee on every gallon of paint sold is pushing her to shop outside Maryland. “We are travelling to Pennsylvania to get our paint, especially if its quantity,” she said.

Dianna said the added cost is difficult for small businesses to absorb without raising prices for customers. “Every added dollar on….and you have to pass it on…its going to be the loss of clientele,” she said.

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The legislature approved the fee, which went into effect last month. Every dollar collected is set to go to a nonprofit organization that will operate a paint recycling program. While the state has insisted it does not receive any of the funding, the state does receive tax revenue because Maryland’s 6% sales tax is applied to every fee collected.

Some consumers and lawmakers are criticizing the cost. “You need to get a mortgage just to paint your bedroom,” one person said.

Maryland’s $1.15-per-gallon fee is higher than what consumers pay in most of the 13 other participating states. Californians pay 65 cents a gallon, and District of Columbia residents pay 70 cents. Only Washington state and Vermont have fees that are slightly higher than Maryland’s.

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Del. Kathy Szeliga criticized the program’s finances, saying, “Marylanders should not be paying millions of dollars to a non profit that has 63-million dollars invested in the stock market.”

Last month, lawmakers who are members of Maryland’s Freedom Caucus sent a letter to the governor raising questions about the program. In the letter, they wrote, “We have serious concerns about the structure and oversight of this program and asking ‘where is the money going.’” They have yet to receive a reply.

Dianna said the fee is adding to broader concerns among workers and business owners. “I love the state its so perfect but we’re all thinking about exiting we don’t want to but we’re thinking about it. Its too much no one works for us anymore,” she said.