A tax on rain
Years ago the North Carolina legislature gave the cities in the state the right to tax residents on the amount of rainwater that falls on their properties and cannot be absorbed into the ground. In a very sneaky fashion, Durham, the city that I live in has named this tax, a storm water runoff fee.
Here's an interesting question, in an effort to reduce my impact on the environment, I've begun harvesting rainwater. So now, one of my downspouts empties into a very large barrel, and I use this water in my gardens. This water is not running into the sewer system, so how is Durham going to give me credit for this water that they don't have to "process?"
My guess is that there will be no credit. In the last few months Durham has at times relentlessly and unfairly made all sorts of interesting grabs for revenue from her citizens. Our storm water and drinking water bills are combined, but the bill for drinking water is due several days later then the bill for storm water. There is no notation on the bill for two separate due dates and in many instances if one pays on time they are still slapped with a late fee for the storm water bill. I was one of those folks. I was charged $.31 for my storm water bill being late even though I paid my water bill on time.
I know I shouldn't cry over $.31 but it's the principle of the matter. Af Durham does this to 200,000 people that is $62,000 in additional revenue. That my friends is not chump change.
