By State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake)
I know to you, it might sound strange; But I wish it would rain – The Temptations – I wish it would rain
There isn’t anything Springfield won’t tax.
The latest Democrat money grab is a tax on rain. Yes, that’s right. Democrats now want to tax the rain.
Of course, they aren’t going to say that directly, but the net effect of House Bill 825 would be a rain tax. The measure amends the Illinois Municipal Code to modify the definition of "sewerage system" to include storm water collection, treatment, and distribution infrastructure and disposal of storm water, giving local municipalities the ability to charge a fee to offset the cost of owning, maintaining, and improving local storm water infrastructure.
The legislation would have a broad application. Most storm water doesn't end up in the city sewers. The majority of downspouts drain onto a homeowner’s property and, since this is legally a fee, it will be charged to all residences and businesses, as well as churches, schools, and not-for-profit owned properties.
This is an unlimited tax which can be increased perpetually, and it could eventually grow into one of the most expensive taxes in Illinois. There also are no exemptions for seniors, families with children, low income earners, or even churches.
This proposed tax increase is illustrative of the out-of-control spending we are seeing at all levels of government. Instead of governments cutting costs, eliminating waste and fraud, tax and spend career politicians are doing what they do best – raise taxes.
The rain tax is problematic in several ways. First, how is this going to be enforced? This tax hike is likely to become an administrative nightmare that will be difficult to enforce.
Second, the rain tax will add to an already high tax burden in Illinois. According to a recent report from WalletHub, Illinois residents have the highest combined state and local tax rates in the nation.
The creation of yet another tax in Illinois is not what we need right now. Illinois lost 45,000 people last year. Our state is likely to lose one, possibly two, Congressional seats in the next census. People are leaving our state because our taxes are too high. Enacting an unlimited tax on rain is not the solution we need to grow our population and grow our economy.
Given what has been happening in Illinois recently, the rain tax would-be dead-on arrival if Illinois politicians were in touch with the over-taxed residents. Unfortunately, they are not and a tax on rain could very likely be in our future.
What Illinois needs is jobs and opportunities. Instead all we get is more taxes and more regulations and people are leaving here by the droves. To put the number of people Illinois lost into perspective, 69 of Illinois’ 102 counties have a population of 45,000 or less.
What is happening is unacceptable.
We can’t stop the exodus from Illinois by continuing to cling to the same bad policies that are driving them out in the first place. It is time for real meaningful reform in Illinois, not more taxes.
