Skillicorn: Democrats' rain tax will become a deluge

By State Rep. Allen Skillicorn

Guest columnist

"I know to you it might sound strange. But I wish it would rain."

- The Temptations

There isn't anything Springfield won't tax. The latest Democratic 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 "sewage system" to include stormwater collection, treatment and distribution infrastructure and disposal of stormwater, giving local municipalities the ability to charge a fee to offset the cost of owning, maintaining and improving local stormwater infrastructure.

The legislation would have a broad application. Most stormwater 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, churches, schools and not-for-profits.

This is an unlimited tax that 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 - raising 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 overtaxed 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 fewer people.

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 meaningful reform in Illinois, not more taxes.

• State Rep. Allen Skillicorn is a Republican from East Dundee.