Henry Offers Last Ditch Bottle Tax Alternative

Councilman Bill Henry made one last attempt to stop a 3-cent hike of the city’s bottle tax—and failed.

Henry, during a Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee voting session, tried to amend the bill to strip the increase, but remove a sunset provision from the bill.

Henry, who represents the York Road corridor, opposes the legislation because be said he believes it will put city businesses at a competitive disadvantage compared to Baltimore County businesses. The northern border of Henry’s district touches the city-county line.

He has also argued the city can leverage the $300 million in bonds that are needed for school construction, and rehabilitation without increasing the bottle tax. Henry has proposed a and dedicating 25 percent of projected revenues from a slots casino to school construction.

Henry’s last minute amendment failed when Councilman William Cole, Councilman Edward Reisinger and Councilman Warren Branch voted against the amendment.

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