The Rain Tax

[Duper]

Ok, so someone in Maryland decided that they can TAX the amount of runoff that each property er... emits...exudes...propagates? whatever...
Basically this is all done in the name of a "cleaner environment".
How do they plan on estimating these Impervious surfaces? (that's the real name of the tax: "Impervious Surfaces” tax) With technologies like google earth and the like. There is a bit more to all of this but still...duf***??!!

Sources:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... ax-time-o/

http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/04/1 ... -it-rains/

Really though, these aren't exclusive. Search "rain tax" and you'll get plenty to read.
Here in Oregon, they implemented something over a decade ago that works really well. Every new parking lot that is put up has to have a runoff collection "ditch". These ditches vary in size depending on the size of parking lots they support and have water plant life in them like willow and cattail and other grasses that help break down the stuff in the water. In each ditch there is an overflow drain that sits just below the level of the ditches banks. Mind you, these things are typically deep and would be hard pressed in all the cases I've seen to EVER fill that high. Also, yes, there are normally fences around these things.AND they they aren't eyesores as landscapers have found some creative ways to work them into the surrounding visage.

HERE is an example of one that is about 11 years old.

[Will Robinson]

I believe slick was talking about planting on his land to get a break from a tax like that. Erosion or chemical runoff, etc into the lowlands and water systems is an issue in areas like that. Golf courses and other large developments have negative impacts and are taxed or levied by municipalities and county/state agencies to supposedly counter the added expense the development costs the government to deal with the situation.

[Spidey]

Yea, we have that here in Philly too, it’s called “stormwater” here…and you are charged by the square foot of hard runoff surfaces. (the water runs off your roof, into the drains, then down to the river…and you get to pay for it)

Most people here consider it just another Philadelphia scam, like fining people for not recycling, when the fact is, a large percentage of collected recyclables end up in the normal landfills because they don’t have the capacity to process all of what’s collected. So even tho there is a very good chance your recyclables will end up in the normal landfill, you still get fined if you don’t separate.

And CLIP, that fines you for having a piece of litter or an overgrown bush, then charges you 450 bucks to cut your lawn.

The next thing here is the new “actual home value” taxing scam…errr scheme, where they have sent out valuations to all property owners with deliberately inflated values, hoping after everyone spends their own money, getting their property estimated…some of the crap will stick.

Of course you can’t really blame the city for being desperate to bring in revenue…after all, they chased all of the business and well healed taxpayers out of here long ago.

[Ferno]

holy ★■◆● spidey. that's some messed up stuff.

fining people for not recycling? taxing for runoff? charging 450 for a mow if you have a single piece of litter? Goddamn man, did the greenies take over one night?

[callmeslick]

I believe slick was talking about planting on his land to get a break from a tax like that.

close, Will(and good memory work!!!). We get an abatement for NOT planting on certain lands bordering the Chesapeake Bay marshes. We are rewarded for allowing the land to stay forested, in the form of tax breaks, on a few hundred acres bordering the marshes. We can still make money off of the harvest of the white pine trees(well, once every 18 years), and the Bay benefits.


edit--am off to benefit from the Bay for 5 days. Crab population has risen to the largest ever. Last year, the estimate was an adult population of over 600 MILLION blue crabs. And those little buggers represent a massive boon to the local economy, which is the downstream benefit of such legislation and regulations to protect the bay. That bay is the lifeblood of two states coastal regions, and a major tourist draw, and has been beaten on, environmentally for a century or more.

[callmeslick]

holy **** spidey. that's some messed up stuff.

fining people for not recycling? taxing for runoff? charging 450 for a mow if you have a single piece of litter? ******* man, did the greenies take over one night?

nah, that's Philly, and as Spidey suggested, the place is as fecked up as a soup sandwich, and has been for generations. This isn't some recent development, the politics of that town are as crooked as any, at the street level. You pay to get elected, pay to become a judge, pay to live there(well heeled or not......in fact that is my one disagreement with Spidey, Philly has a LOT of wealthy residents still).

[Ferno]

nah, that's Philly, and as Spidey suggested, the place is as fecked up as a soup sandwich, and has been for generations.

I can only respond with this...