EPA Forces Maryland To Tax “Rain”
From Daily Finance:
The Environmental Protection Agency decreed in 2010 that Maryland had to stop so much stormwater runoff from draining into the Bay, a project that would cost $14.8 billion. To pay for that, authorities decided to tax “impervious surfaces” — in the words of The Gazette, “anything that prevents rainwater from seeping into the earth (roofs, driveways, patios, sidewalks, etc.) thereby causing stormwater runoff.”
This solution is being called — with the combined goodwill these two concepts evoke — a rain tax.
Faced with the EPA’s orders, the state has required its 10 largest counties — Montgomery, Prince George’s, Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll, Hartford, Charles, Frederick, Baltimore counties and Baltimore city — to raise the revenue. Rain taxes are to take effect in these areas by July 1.
Perhaps even more disturbing than the duty itself is the manner in which property owners’ obligations will be calculated: According to the Gazette, “satellite imagery and geographic information systems” will be used to measure the area of roofs and driveways.
Homeowners will bear the brunt of the rain tax: of the $14.8 billion to be raised — $482 million each year until 2025 — about three-quarters will come from residential property owners. The rate is expected to start at $100 a year for most homeowners, although that could rise. The only rain tax shelter: credits and exemptions for property owners who follow stormwater “best practices.”
How the hell does the EPA have any right to force taxes on anyone, they were not elected to any office. What happened to “No Taxation Without Representation”? Maryland should have fought this tooth and nail…think Texas or Oklahoma would have put up with this shit?? Doubt it.
2 thoughts on “EPA Forces Maryland To Tax “Rain””
Just another example of ridiculous government regulations. Here’s the flip side of that coin.
As you know, I live in Texas. There’s no such thing here as an ‘average’ year of rainfall. We either have way too much (floods) or not enough (drought). A few years ago we installed a rainwater capture system that catches the runoff from our roof, filters and treats it, and stores it for household use. It’s so efficient that we now use our well mostly for irrigation, and use the captured rainwater for drinking, cooking, showering, etc.
Makes sense, right? A very efficient use of natural resources (we don’t capture more than we can use – the storage tank has an overflow outlet), we don’t draw down the water table, etc.
Well, in several states (including, I believe, Utah) our setup would be illegal. It seems that some governments believe that rainwater falling freely from the sky belongs to them.
Talk about government intrusion into our private lives…
Tim – I heard about that. And as usual, the public handles a natural resource more efficiently than a government. Go figure.