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Rain tax. A stormwater fee, also known as a rain tax, is a charge imposed on real estate owners for pollution in stormwater drainage from impervious surface runoff. This system introduced in Germany in the 1990s that imposes a tax that is proportional to impervious areas, such as concrete or asphalt, that does not absorb rain to the surface.
Rain tax. A stormwater fee, also known as a rain tax, is a charge imposed on real estate owners for pollution in stormwater drainage from impervious surface runoff. This system introduced in Germany in the 1990s that imposes a tax that is proportional to impervious areas, such as concrete or asphalt, that does not absorb rain to the surface.
"Tax" is a rather inaccurate term. It's more like a user fee. Here's how it works right now. I have a modest house on a fair amount of acreage and very little impervious coverage since my property is largely undeveloped. If a builder decides to put some homes with lots of roof area, pavement, decks, patios, driveways, etc...that causes a bunch of runoff in another part of town that then causes flooding, MY (and everyone else in town) tax dollars end up paying for off tract drainage improvements to correct the problem because the municipality has no other place to get the money than to raise taxes on the entire town.
A stormwater assessment on the other hand charges a fee that as Kracer stated is proportionate to the impervious coverage on the lot. I don't cause a lot of runoff and I don't relish the idea of footing the bill for those that do-that is socialism IMO. It's not unlike tolls on the Turnpike or the Parkway-those two roadways are not funded by any taxes, but rather the toll fees charged. I don't care what the tolls are because I rarely use either road. Likewise I would not appreciate having to support them with my tax dollars. I am for user fees for government services rather than blanket taxes whenever possible.
"Tax" is a rather inaccurate term. It's more like a user fee. Here's how it works right now. I have a modest house on a fair amount of acreage and very little impervious coverage since my property is largely undeveloped. If a builder decides to put some homes with lots of roof area, pavement, decks, patios, driveways, etc...that causes a bunch of runoff in another part of town that then causes flooding, MY (and everyone else in town) tax dollars end up paying for off tract drainage improvements to correct the problem because the municipality has no other place to get the money than to raise taxes on the entire town.
A stormwater assessment on the other hand charges a fee that as Kracer stated is proportionate to the impervious coverage on the lot. I don't cause a lot of runoff and I don't relish the idea of footing the bill for those that do-that is socialism IMO. It's not unlike tolls on the Turnpike or the Parkway-those two roadways are not funded by any taxes, but rather the toll fees charged. I don't care what the tolls are because I rarely use either road. Likewise I would not appreciate having to support them with my tax dollars. I am for user fees for government services rather than blanket taxes whenever possible.
Don't kid yourself, it's a tax.
Just wait until they think about passing a toilet bowl flushing tax.
Basically it's a way to increase property taxes without that pesky cap. Municipalities move wastewater management from property-tax funded to rain-tax funded, then they continue to increase property taxes as much as possible and spend it on whatever other nonsense they spend on. Same goes for the new arts tax.
Maryland governor moves to repeal 'rain tax' (Reuters) - Maryland's “rain tax” on stormwater runoff designed to protect the ailing Chesapeake Bay would be repealed under legislation Republican Governor Larry Hogan unveiled on Tuesday.Feb 10, 2015
Just wait until they think about passing a toilet bowl flushing tax.
No sewer bill here-I have a septic system. Are you proposing that I subsidize your use of a public sewer system that I need or want no part of via my property taxes? I deliberately moved to a community with no public water, sewer, or local police force because I didn't want to pay for those things. It seems that opponents of stormwater utilities simply want to spend other people's money to fix their problems.
Rain tax. A stormwater fee, also known as a rain tax, is a charge imposed on real estate owners for pollution in stormwater drainage from impervious surface runoff. This system introduced in Germany in the 1990s that imposes a tax that is proportional to impervious areas, such as concrete or asphalt, that does not absorb rain to the surface.
50+ years ago, the Passaic River used to take 24 hours or more to crest after a rainfall event. Today it takes less than 8. This is all due to upstream asphalt runoff. Costs incurred are not really compensated, let alone pollution.
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