It may not be popular with residents, but Montgomery County has to love their new bag tax.
According to the Washington Post, in just its first month, the county collected $154,000 from the five cent tax on paper and plastic bags. That equals out to about four million bags handed out during the month of January. County officials say that keeps pace with their expectations.
The county expected to raise about $1.2 million this year from the tax. But if the rest of the year keeps pace with January, the county could make nearly $2 million.
The tax applies to bags sold at all retail spaces in the county with the exception of paper bags from restaurants and pharmacy bags for prescription drugs. The money is being used to support a water management fund.
