Several years ago the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District created a new regulation that would create a new tax burden on the citizens. This tax would be determined by measuring the amount of impermeable surface (roof, asphalt driveway, etc) on a property (business, home, church, etc.). The logic (and I use this term loosely) goes something like this. The more impermeable surface you have, the more storm water run-off you create, and you, the citizen must pay for any harm to the environment that might be created.
Unfortunately, there is no proof that the water that runs off of your roof does any damage to the environment, nor did you the citizen have any chance to voice your objection to this tax (Does “taxation without representation” ring any bells?).
Again, for those of us who understand Agenda 21, this is just another way to tax the citizen into the poor house while “nudging” us to build taller, narrower, and hopefully smaller homes. Got to love those folks who just can’t get through a day without trying to control our every decision.
Last month (September 2014) the 1851 Center for Constitutional Law provided a Merit Brief to the Supreme Court of Ohio. The results of this case, which could have important implications beyond the state, will not be known for some time. To learn more about this case, follow this link. To get more history on this issue, follow this link.
