Matt Santoni has an article in today's Trib concerning our stormwater fee public hearing that was held on Tuesday night. That reminds me. I need to put up the podcasts from the two commission meetings. It was a very long night!
Bill Lewis got a standing ovation for his comments. As usual, he made excellent points. I have to say that I understand the need for this fee. We had waist high water in our garage and basement for the 100 year storm, the 101 year storm, and when Hurricane Ivan hit. The Municipality corrected our street's problem, but there are many others still faced with this issue. I am just having difficulty with how the fee will be implemented. My street has some of the smallest houses in Mt. Lebanon. It is unfortunate that we will be assessed the same as homes in the more affluent areas. Yes, I will pay my fair share, but there were two cars which were totaled during those storms, on our street alone. Our neighborhood took quite a hit. Personally, we had considerable damages and our insurance wouldn't cover it. I guess what I am about to suggest would be an accounting nightmare, but wouldn't it be better to figure the average square footage of impervious surfaces per street and charge accordingly? Likewise, as Bill pointed out, those who have rain gardens and leach beds, shouldn't be charged at all. There has to be a more equitable solution to our problem.
Stormwater fee plan steams some Mt. Lebanon residents
Update: For those interested, here is a link to building a rain garden. http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/GWQ037.pdf
7 comments:
I basically agree with Mr. Lewis except for one point. The storm water drains handle much more than just the runoff from individuals property. So yes, one's downspouts may not empty into the storm sewers, but the property owner does enjoy the benefit (hopefully) of having rain that falls in the streets, parks etc. carried away too. So, every property should contribute something for a service we all use in one way or another.
What would be equitable is a tough one!
_ Giffen Good
Giffen,
What you are apparently not aware of is that this proposed *scheme* provides for up to 50% fee discounts for the likes of school district, mini, office and large apartment buildings that provide some degree or stormwater management, BUT NO DISCOUNTS FOR SINGLE FAMILY, TOWNHOUSE OR DUPLEX RESIDENTIAL properties (other than a potential 1-time $25 rainbarrel credit) that already have or will have significant stormwater management features like my property and those of likely several hundred other taxpayers.
This and the questionable items referred to by Elaine are among a number of other features that are discriminatory, unfair and inequitable about this boondoggle as concocted and presented.
Bill Lewis
Mr. Lewis I understand the inequities. Actually what I don't quite understand is why the money isn't already in the general fund to pay for this type of maintenance. Just like paving roads. Its not like its something that snuck up on the municipality.
One would think as taxpayers incomes rose over the years, the increase in tax revenue to pay for municipal services would rise too.
But unfortunately, the commissioners and school board thought the money train would never stop. Raising payrolls, promising pensions and adding on extravagances oblivious to the fact that at some point Mt. Lebanon would become a mature community. No big malls, no more Cyclops buildings to fund new revenue streams.
Basically the local governing bodies need to accept they too are seniors on fixed incomes.
- Giffen Good
Correction/addendum :
The word "mini" in my comment above should have been Muni.....and should have included retail shops, shopping malls (e.g Galleria, Manor Oak, etc.)and houses of worship in the laundry list of properties that would qualify for up to 50% discounts.
I was hurrying, late for a meeting.
Bill Lewis
In todays Trib, Colin McNickle , the Director of Editorial Pages, *nails* the stormwater boondoggle and indicates that proponents of it claim it is *fair* because non-profits will also pay the fee...leading naive Lebo personage to believe that makes it OK...but does it really ?
Of course not, and here is where the entire scheme is B.S. (Blatant Sophistry)...the major Lebo non-profits in terms of the measurement standard for the *fees* are the Muni and tha School District.....and where will these taxing bodies get the funds to pay the *fees* ? From increased taxation of course....from us ! So folks, we will be double-dip payers paying the *fees* both directly and indirectly for the scheme. Next are the multitude of houses of worship....and where will they obtain the funds to pay for the *fees* ? Yeah, you guessed it....from members of the congregations, again the double-dip fandango.
Colin and I both have single familt residential properties with storm watewr management features that do not connect to or rely upon the Muni storm sewer system.
As for street curbs and gutters being added as an afterthought....it's a tax dodge ! Include it in the *fee* structure at an added $3/mo./ERU ($500,000/yr.)....but the street curbs, gutters & storm drains are designed primarily for water runoff from the streets, which are designed for that to happen...interestingly, the *boondoggle* exempts all streets from the *fee* formula....you know why ? Because the State & County would refuse to pay the *fees* for their significant portion/ownership of 55 miles of Lebo streets.
Bill Lewis
Bill, its a misnomer that any corporation pays taxes. The corporation will 1. either raise the price of their product or service to cover the tax, so the individual's in the end pay for the tax at some point or 2. they absorb the tax and cut into the stockholders holdings. In the end hurt individuals.
The school district plays this same game declaring they're taking a specific action to maximize revenue from the state. The amazing thing is there are opeople that believe the state has a cauldron of money they just dip into to pass out to Mt. Lebanon, USC, Bethel, Philadelphia or wherever.
Don't people ever stop and question, where did that cauldron of money come from!!!!?
- Giffen Good
I buy mine at Bob's Money Cauldrons.
They just had a sale this past weekend - got a deal on an $8MM superpot with some scratched out blue and gold paint on it.
Isn't that where everyone goes? :)
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