City leaders in Baltimore are working on a plan to lower property tax rates, which sounds like good news for homeowners. But at the same time, they’re considering adding a new monthly trash collection fee. This means while your property taxes could go down, you may have to start paying separately for garbage pickup, since general taxes currently cover that service.
The mayor and city officials say they want to make the tax system more fair and modern. One way to do that, they argue, is to stop including the cost of trash collection in property taxes and instead make it a separate charge, like many other cities do.
Why the City Wants to Add a Trash Fee
Right now, Baltimore uses money from property taxes to cover the cost of trash collection. That’s about $92 million a year, which includes garbage pickup, recycling, and street sweeping. If the city switches to a trash fee, it will stop using general taxes to cover the cost and instead charge residents directly.
This kind of system already exists in other parts of Maryland and in many U.S. cities. Officials say it’s a more direct and transparent way of billing people for services. Instead of everyone paying the same amount through taxes, the city would separate out the cost so people know exactly what they’re paying for.
How Much Would the Trash Fee Be?
The city hasn’t said exactly how much the trash fee would cost residents. But they’ve given some examples: in other cities, trash fees can range from about $20 to $30 per month. For a Baltimore household, that could mean paying $240 to $360 a year just for trash pickup.
If the city does go forward with the fee, it would need to raise enough to replace the full cost of the current service—again, around $92 million. That means the city will require every household to cover their share, unless it offers discounts or waivers for low-income residents.
What Residents Are Worried About
Some people are concerned that this plan could end up costing them more overall. Even if property taxes go down, the trash fee might cancel out those savings—or worse, cost even more. Residents also worry that lower-income households could be hit hardest by the added bill.
Another concern is that renters may see higher costs passed on to them by landlords. And people are asking whether this is just a way for the city to shift financial responsibility without really improving services.
What Happens Next?
The plan is still being discussed, and city officials haven’t finalized anything yet. They’re weighing the pros and cons, and public feedback could play a big role in the final decision. For now, it’s clear that Baltimore wants to move toward a system that separates service fees from property taxes.
In short, this is about changing how the city charges for services—not necessarily charging less. If the plan moves forward, expect lower property taxes, but a new bill in your mailbox for trash collection. Whether that’s a win or a loss depends on the final numbers—and your point of view.