For decades, Anne Arundel County has had a major problem.

It is one of the state's most developed counties, and yet it also has a huge amount of shoreline. over the years, that has meant a deluge of pollution in tiny creeks and bigger rivers all over the area. Furnace Creek, Marley Creek, even lovely Weems Creek -- they're all in peril.

What to do? Some in government have suggested a tax that would help pay to improve runoff. But that failed last night, as reported by the Annapolis Capital. Seems that, between property taxes, sales taxes, room taxes, titling taxes and even more taxes coming, residents are feeling overtaxed.

So, county government is trying something different -- an opt-in. As Councilman Ron Dillon puts it:

"This is simply: if you don't want to pay it, you don't. If you care about the bay, you pay it. If you don't, you pass."

I guess, in that way, it's kind of like getting a Chesapeake Bay plate. But wait, should it be more like paying a Bay Bridge toll?

 The Capital continues:

County Executive John R. Leopold said he plans to submit a new SMART Fund bill within two weeks that will have "refinements," but still would be based on taxing new development that creates impervious surface. He said it presents "the most practicable and equitable mechanisms to raise funds for stormwater management."

 This will be an interesting case to watch. Like politics, pollution is often local. And whether people want to admit it or not, a new housing development is adding more pollution to a creek than an 18th-century home in the historic district. Where we live matters.