[lainie]

We'll put meters on their runoff, and tax the pollutants. And pass the buck, blaming the fedgov. Yeah.

[Black Agnes]

ping!

[Eala]

This sounds a lot like the "surface water management" system "fees" with which Seattle-area properties are being bilked.

My church had been paying about $400/year despite all the runoff-management devices, cisterns etc. installed. Then the city took part of the property to widen the road, and now the bill is over $1000/year.

There's lots of money for the government to make here, and the residents of Winona better not get too conmfortable with these low rates.

[The Duke]

I remember back when I thought the Brits were suckers
because the government required the purchase of a license
to watch television.

[freeeee]

TAXMAN (G. Harrison)

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

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

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me.

[Myrddin]

This is being applied to cities of 50,000 or larger per the 1972 Clean Water Act. The issue concerns "impervious" surfaces such as parking lots and building roofs. All runoff must be captured and treated to prevent pollutants from being carried into rivers and aquifers. Pocatello proposed "fees" on small businesses that ranged from $15,000 to $95,000 per year. The businesses told the city they would be shutting down if this is imposed. Back to the drawing board for the politicians.

The term "fee" generally applies to money collected for services requested by a user who has the discretion to avoid the "fee" by not using the service. These "fees" are imposed upon property owners in an involuntary fashion. They are essentially property taxes, but taxes can't be levied without direct authorization from the voters.

[RonF]

Hey, if you don't like it, dig a retention pond on your property and don't let the rainwater run off.

That in fact is pretty common out here in the Chicago area. Commercial properties, and residential developments, all must be designed so that no more water runs off of them after development than before. Chicago is mostly on a flood plain, and prior to such laws the paving and re-landscaping that's performed during such development used to cause land that had previously retained rainwater to cause it to run off instead, flooding out the neighbors. So in the interests of flood control, you now must ensure that your property retains as much rainwater after a rain as it did before it was developed.

[tomakaze]

RE:Councilman Dieter Mielimonka said when the charge is billed there should be a note added to every bill - "This charge due to a federal mandate."
 
What a copout.
these ridiculous federal mandates may be ignored RE: the 10th ammendment if local Pols (and the public - most especially the public) had the cajones to do so.

[Willie Green]

I wonder who will be the first public official to be literally tarred and feathered over this.

It's a fine American tradition that has been dormant far too long.

[Centurion2000]

This is a good "line in the sand" ....

[Ben Ficklin]

The impact of non-point regs on agribusiness will be more significant than impact on residential.

[ClearCase_guy]

the Winona City Council will charge city property owners for the rain that falls on their land.

Knowing Winona, I expect most people to put the rainwater in their pocket and walk out of the store without paying the damn tax.

[Landru]

Now this calls for a *song*!!

__________________________________________

TAXMAN

Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, ninetenn for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five percent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold, I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet

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

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me

-g.harrison-
________________________________________

Almost forgot about you, joanie girl.

...which would've totally missed the point, eh? :o)

[Old Professer]

In 1992 meters were installed in the discharge pipes at the West Los Angeles V.A. hospital along with sampling equipment.

[Consort]

And they'll claim that it's just a drop in the bucket.

[timydnuc]

Start the "recall" petitions right this minute. Recall these stupid people and blow them off the town counsel, and do it now.

We just bought a cabin in NW Wisconsin on a beautiful country lake. The folks around there just recalled the entire county board, and fired them. Seems that the board was moving to institute a "View Tax". The tax would have been applicable to all new housing that had any kind (no matter how far away from the lake front) of a view of the lakes in the county (numerous lakes in that county). Talk about fired up! These people just got plain "p!ssed" and, literally, fired the whole damn board, whether they were in support of it or not. The lovely part about it is that 8 of the 9 board members were raving liberals, and one RINO. They're all Pubbies now! Needless to say that the word "view" and the word "tax" are not allowed to be used in the same paragraph at county board meetings.

[lainie]

Be prepared to pay the government for the rain on your roof..

The Rain Tax Cometh (8-15-2002)

ping