MD imposes a 'Rain Tax'

[Grahambo]

I am a homeowner in MD and just learned that Gov. O'Malley has imposed a 'Rain Tax':

Here’s What’s Included in Maryland’s Controversial ‘Rain Tax’ (It’s Exactly What It Sounds Like)

""Fees will be calculated on the surface area of properties as the theory is that roofs, driveways and carparks create more potential for drainage problems and water contamination," Metro explains. "Councils are supposed to determine how much to charge per square foot, but the fee depends on the size of the building and surrounding paved surfaces.""

"But how will tax collectors know how to tax "impervious surfaces"? How will they know how much to charge per square foot?
Again, we turn to The Gazette: "Thanks to satellite imagery and geographic information systems, Big Brother can measure your roof and driveway (and you thought drones were only used for killing terrorists).""

 

[Whiskeyjack]

"Thanks to satellite imagery and geographic information systems, Big Brother can measure your roof and driveway (and you thought drones were only used for killing terrorists).""

 

[irishff1014]

He is a huge dumbA&&. All politicians have ruin this state.

 

[scUM Hater]

Great, Now our worthless governor in Michigan, Snyder, will probably do this.

 

[RallySonsOfND]

Great, Now our worthless governor in Michigan, Snyder, will probably do this.

Please.

Michigan is in much better shape financially now because of him.

 

[phgreek]

Give your state politicians a break guys...this is in response to an EPA edict...

This is...yet again...the Federal Government being who they are...

This is a way to assess those who can pay, vs those responsible for contamination in runoff...

 

[GowerND11]

Incredible....

 

[stlnd01]

I don't know much about Maryland's specific law, but the idea is really nothing all that radical.
Mostly designed to make developers of giant, asphalt-covered shopping plazas pay for all the stormwater that runs off their property into public sewers and streams and encourage them to plant more grass and whatnot. It's smart planning.

As for the idea that "Big Brother" is "spying" on people to measure their impervious surfaces, the size of your house (i.e. square footage of your roof) has been a standard component of property records in most places for a century. And Google Maps pretty much has the whole world photographed anyway.
But go ahead, don the tin foil.

 

[dshans]

I don't know much about Maryland's specific law, but the idea is really nothing all that radical.
Mostly designed to make developers of giant, asphalt-covered shopping plazas pay for all the stormwater that runs off their property into public sewers and streams and encourage them to plant more grass and whatnot. It's smart planning.

As for the idea that "Big Brother" is "spying" on people to measure their impervious surfaces, the size of your house (i.e. square footage of your roof) has been a standard component of property records in most places for a century. And Google Maps pretty much has the whole world photographed anyway.
But go ahead, don the tin foil.

A voice of reason in the wilderness!

Since I've lived in Minneapolis (1978) there has been a local fee added to property taxes to deal with storm water runoff. Initially it funded separating sanitary (household and business) drainage systems from rainwater and snow melt. Both found their way into the Mississippi.

The notion was to "process" the two appropriately as the different "products" that they are. Effluence from the drains in one's home is a different animal than what washes off roofs, driveways, sidewalks, yards and streets. Both require specific treatments to approach efficacy. The methods are not "one size fits all." Neither are cheap.

In terms of The Big Muddy I'm sure that those downstream from Minnesota appreciate our efforts including those who harvest oysters, shrimp and fish from the Gulf of Mexico. Consider the health of the Chesapeake Bay and it's contribution to the economy of Maryland. Consider the watershed.

"Pay me now or pay me (much, much more) later."



[Oh, and many communities, Minneapolis included, rely on the Mississippi for drinking water. The less the need for processing to make water potable the better. And less expensive.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

Your existing utility district and/or property taxes already pay for this.

If anyone is arguing that this tax is legitimate, then, well, they're just ignoring the double-counting...