Posted on 02/05/2019 12:51:34 PM PST by Red Badger
Idea Is To Protect Garden State's Streams, Rivers And Bays From Potentially Toxic Storm Runoff From Salt And Lawn Fertilizers
ELIZABETH, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — New Jersey is one of the highest taxed states in the country.
Now, residents and businesses could be taxed extra … when it rains.
Save it for a rainy day. Some of your hard-earned dollars may be taken away as the weather turns ugly and rain drops fall on the Garden State. A new bill calls for the creation of local or regional storm water utilities, giving local counties and municipalities the power to collect a tax from properties with large paved surfaces such as parking lots, CBS2’s Meg Baker reported.
That’s businesses and homeowners.
The bill passed in the Senate and the Assembly and is now headed to Gov. Phil Murphy’s desk.
“With all the salt that we’ve had on roads recently, that’s all running into the sewer systems. So you can’t ignore problems because they don’t go away,” Senate President Steve Sweeney said.
Sweeney said most states already have storm water utilities that collect and filter runoff from storms. In New Jersey, the runoff goes directly into streams, rivers and bays, carrying with it pollution like lawn fertilizers that contaminate the waterways.
MORE: Gov. Murphy Signs Bill That Will Eventually Raise Minimum Wage In N.J. To $15 An Hour
Former governor and current state Sen. Richard Codey said it’s necessary.
“A lot of our economy is based on, obviously, the shore. We gotta make sure we keep it that way,” Codey said.
Some homeowners aren’t a fan of the plan, either.
“They are crazy. As it is, there are too much taxes in New Jersey,” Elizabeth resident Ramon Columna said. “Why would we want more taxes especially on cement, ya know?”
“Our homeowner’s taxes are as high as they can possibly be. They shouldn’t go any higher. It’s not fair,” resident Leslie Cedillo added.
MORE: New Jersey’s Gas Tax Jumps For 2nd Time In 2 Years
Some Republicans have dubbed the bill the “Rain Tax,” saying another tax makes New Jersey even more unaffordable, and state Sen. Tom Kean Jr. agrees.
“We all want to protect our environment. We all want to preserve it for future generations. But this is a weighted tax. The citizens of New Jersey … really with no oversight and no way to defend themselves against tax increases at local levels,” Kean said.
When asked what he would say to taxpayers who say they cannot afford another tax, Codey said, “It’s a small cost to live safely.”
Other supporters say creating these utilities would help reduce flooding caused by storms.
Since rich homeowners can’t pay more tax because of the cap on deductions of SALT, New Jersey is sticking it to the weather which rains on the poor in greater numbers than the rich.
Not to mention the people’s republic of Hawaii where I live. I am truly surprised it has not yet happened here.
“It is for drainage improvements.”
That’s what they tell you. In reality if it’s anything like Illinois the money would find it’s way into union hands from whence a goodly portion would be given to democrat politicians.
Previously, the storm and sanitary sewer systems were one and the same, and during heavy rains raw sewage ran into the Grand River.
When the new jersey legislature made your breakfast illegal with sunny side up egg laws, that just about cooked the frog. That was 20 years ago.
Wallet drainage improvements more like it.
“It is for drainage improvements.”
That’s what they tell you. In reality if it’s anything like Illinois the money would find it’s way into union hands from whence a goodly portion would be given to democrat politicians.
Storm water runoff is already included in building, construction, and highway projects since the 70’s. And it has been amended in the codes each year to reflect improved science.
If it moves, it will be taxed.
New Jersey is famous for taxes and fees which are never spent on the “intended” purpose.
If they think something is needed they could live within their budget.
Rain
The Beatles
Produced by George Martin
Album Hey Jude
[Verse 1]
If the rain comes
They run and hide their heads
They might as well be dead
If the rain comes
If the rain comes
When the sun shines
They slip into the shade
And sip their lemonade
When the sun shines
When the sun shines
[Hook]
Rain, I don’t mind
Shine, the weather’s fine
[Verse 2]
I can show you
That when it starts to rain
Everything’s the same
I can show you
I can show you
[Hook]
Rain, I don’t mind
Shine, the weather’s fine
[Verse 3]
Can you hear me
That when it rains and shines
It’s just a state of mind
Can you hear me
Can you hear me
[Outro]
Sdaeh rieht edih dna nur yeht semoc niar eht fI
(Rain)
NiaR
(Rain)
But that does nothing about retrofitting existing systems, which is what Lansing is doing, or paying for it.
https://www.lansingmi.gov/459/Combined-Sewer-Overflow-Project
“Our homeowner’s taxes are as high as they can possibly be. They shouldn’t go any higher. It’s not fair,” resident Leslie Cedillo added.
Any bets as to who Ramon Columa and Leslie Cedillo voted for for Governor? My great great grandparents settled in Elizabeth when they got off the boat from Ireland, it used to be a vibrant and beautiful city. Now not so much....
The soccer moms will put up with anything so long as babies can be aborted. So as long as the GOP runs from social issues, this is what you’ll get. There will be nowhere to run to soon enough. Is there anywhere in this country that went from democrat to republican? Liberal to conservative? The cancer keeps spreading.
Seems to me that the problem with the SALT is because the local & state governments are putting salt on the roads in the winter.
The homeowner might put some on their sidewalk, but the largest amount is put there by the GOVERNMENTS.
This won’t survive a court challenge if any judge has their head on straight.
How about taxing for dirty diapers??? Those are single use—and are filling the land fills.
Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
Tar.
Feathers.
Politicians *
*Some assembly required.
Beginning July 1, 2018, all residential units with water services through Colorado Springs Utilities will be charged a $5 per unit monthly fee that will be collected through residents’ monthly utility bill. Passed by the stooped voters. But we can collect rain water in barrels if so desire.
They are just catching up with Maryland. The “rain tax” is based upon the square footage of one’s house and driveway or a business’s building size and the size of its parking lot. The rain tax is to provide money to ‘fix the environment’ that is damaged by people having houses and drive ways and business’s whose parking lots cause rain water runoff and thus prevents it from soaking into the ground. (or so the Maryland Dems told the taxpayers) Churches were also required to pay the ‘rain tax’ because it was an ‘environmental fee’ and not a tax. (mega bull hockey)
Unfortunately, the same is happening in Houston. The drainage fee has been in place for nearly a decade. Over $700 million has been collected, but less than half has been spent on drainage. The rest was spent on pet “street improvement” projects. Meanwhile, Houston has suffered three catastrophic flooding events since 2015 costing billions of dollars in damage: the Memorial Day Flood in 2015, the Tax Day flood in 2016, and Harvey in 2017.
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