VOTE April 9th to Support Candidates who oppose the Rain Tax!
On Tuesday, the voters of Elgin can chart a new direction for the City Council from its history of excessive taxing and spending, to one of careful spending and consideration of the taxpayers who must foot the bill.
In this election, the “Rain Tax” clearly divides the field of candidates into two distinct groups:
Based upon a January survey sent to all of the Elgin City Council candidates, and verified with later public statements, the following candidates OPPOSE the Rain Tax:
The Rain Tax would appear as a fee on your monthly water bill based upon the rain water that runs off your property into the city sewers. The Rain Tax would be charged to all property owners and would apply to all residences, churches, not-for-profits, schools, and businesses in Elgin. The fee would be based upon how many square feet of impervious surface--roofing and paving--your property possesses.
Based upon Rain Tax rates currently charged in northern Illinois:
Elgin homeowners would pay from $36 to $100 per year.
A small west side church would pay from $190 to $535 per year.
A downtown Elgin auto repair business would pay from $340 to $950 per year.
A family restaurant on the west side would pay from $540 to $1,500 per year.
A northwest side auction house would pay from $880 to $2,500 per year.
A near west side parochial high school would pay from $1,500 to $4,000 per year.
A hardware store with east and west side locations would pay from $1,800 to $5,000 per year.
A downtown grocery store would pay from $5,600 to $16,000 per year.
A northwest side university would pay from $6,600 to $18,500 per year.
In December 2011, a majority of the City Council, (including Rich Dunne and Bob Gilliam who are up for re-election) voted to create the Garbage Tax, Natural Gas Tax, Electric Tax, Liquor Tax, and Leaf Rake-Out Fee, along with increasing the sales tax. In December 2011, those same council members voted for the Five Year Financial Plan which showed the Rain Tax being implemented in 2014, and, earlier this year, voted for a $200,000 study of the Rain Tax and water rates.
In all cases, ONLY John Prigge voted against these new taxes and fees, against the Five Year Financial Plan that called for the Rain Tax, and against the $200,000 study for the Rain Tax and water rates.
The Rain Tax will most certainly be voted on by the City Council later this year, and one vote in opposition will not be enough to stop its implementation. That is why we are urging you to VOTE FOR the candidates who oppose the Rain Tax.
Opposing the Rain Tax is NOT the same as opposing the repair and separation of our sewers. Everyone, including Elgin OCTAVE, wants the Fox River to be clean. But did you know that without the Rain Tax, we have already managed to spend $25 million to separate our sewers and we are spending more than $4 million this year.
If the EPA should require the City of Elgin to accelerate the pace at which we are separating our storm sewers from our sanitary sewers, then we should reprioritize funds being spent on less important projects to being spent on our sewers--NOT raise taxes.
Join in the campaign to Stop the Rain Tax! Contributions to assist us in defraying the cost of yard signs and mailings are always appreciated and can be made payable to “Elgin OCTAVE” and sent to 2 S. Jackson Street, Elgin, IL 60123.
Please tell your friends and neighbors and don’t forget to VOTE Tuesday, April 9th!
Thank You!
Elgin OCTAVE
In this election, the “Rain Tax” clearly divides the field of candidates into two distinct groups:
- Those who oppose the Rain Tax realize that citizens are already over-taxed, and IF more money is needed to fix sewers, than less important projects should be reprioritized to provide the necessary funds, instead of raising additional money through a new punitive and permanent fee.
- Those who believe that taxpayers are an unlimited source of cash whose sole purpose is to fund the desires of those in power.
Based upon a January survey sent to all of the Elgin City Council candidates, and verified with later public statements, the following candidates OPPOSE the Rain Tax:
- Andrew Cuming
- Terry Gavin
- Cody Holt
- Rosemarie Kahn
- John Prigge
- Toby Shaw
The Rain Tax would appear as a fee on your monthly water bill based upon the rain water that runs off your property into the city sewers. The Rain Tax would be charged to all property owners and would apply to all residences, churches, not-for-profits, schools, and businesses in Elgin. The fee would be based upon how many square feet of impervious surface--roofing and paving--your property possesses.
Based upon Rain Tax rates currently charged in northern Illinois:
Elgin homeowners would pay from $36 to $100 per year.
A small west side church would pay from $190 to $535 per year.
A downtown Elgin auto repair business would pay from $340 to $950 per year.
A family restaurant on the west side would pay from $540 to $1,500 per year.
A northwest side auction house would pay from $880 to $2,500 per year.
A near west side parochial high school would pay from $1,500 to $4,000 per year.
A hardware store with east and west side locations would pay from $1,800 to $5,000 per year.
A downtown grocery store would pay from $5,600 to $16,000 per year.
A northwest side university would pay from $6,600 to $18,500 per year.
In December 2011, a majority of the City Council, (including Rich Dunne and Bob Gilliam who are up for re-election) voted to create the Garbage Tax, Natural Gas Tax, Electric Tax, Liquor Tax, and Leaf Rake-Out Fee, along with increasing the sales tax. In December 2011, those same council members voted for the Five Year Financial Plan which showed the Rain Tax being implemented in 2014, and, earlier this year, voted for a $200,000 study of the Rain Tax and water rates.
In all cases, ONLY John Prigge voted against these new taxes and fees, against the Five Year Financial Plan that called for the Rain Tax, and against the $200,000 study for the Rain Tax and water rates.
The Rain Tax will most certainly be voted on by the City Council later this year, and one vote in opposition will not be enough to stop its implementation. That is why we are urging you to VOTE FOR the candidates who oppose the Rain Tax.
Opposing the Rain Tax is NOT the same as opposing the repair and separation of our sewers. Everyone, including Elgin OCTAVE, wants the Fox River to be clean. But did you know that without the Rain Tax, we have already managed to spend $25 million to separate our sewers and we are spending more than $4 million this year.
If the EPA should require the City of Elgin to accelerate the pace at which we are separating our storm sewers from our sanitary sewers, then we should reprioritize funds being spent on less important projects to being spent on our sewers--NOT raise taxes.
Join in the campaign to Stop the Rain Tax! Contributions to assist us in defraying the cost of yard signs and mailings are always appreciated and can be made payable to “Elgin OCTAVE” and sent to 2 S. Jackson Street, Elgin, IL 60123.
Please tell your friends and neighbors and don’t forget to VOTE Tuesday, April 9th!
Thank You!
Elgin OCTAVE
