The Chemung County Legislature’s Budget Committee on March 2nd voted in support of a resolution not to require stores in Chemung County to impose a 5 cent bag fee.
The fee or tax, as Legislator Rodney J. Strange believes it to be, is an option that counties in New York can choose to enact.
Of the 5 cents that would be charged, 2 cents is given back to the counties or cities to be used for purchasing and distributing reusable bags, with priority given to low- and fixed-income communities. The remaining 3 cents will be deposited into the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).The paper bag carryout bag fee does not apply to any customer using the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
Strange, who is a member of the Budget Committee and voted in favor of the resolution opposing the bag fee, says that he understands the positive impact the banning of plastic bags has on the environment but does not believe requiring stores to charge for paper bags should be a local county law.
“This, to me, is a tax on our residents,” Strange said. If a store chooses to implement a fee or charge for bags, that is their option but county government should not require them to do so.”
The resolution will now go to the full legislature for a vote on March 9th.
Below is the resolution passed by the Budget Committee and sent to the full Legislature for a vote:
Resolution_opposing_a_paper_bag_fee_in_Chemung_County