Knoxville, TN – The Mark Padgett for Knoxville City Mayor campaign (www.VotePadgett.com) today issued a policy position on the city’s proposal for a stormwater user fee.

The city’s Energy and Sustainability Work Plan includes a proposal to adopt fees to “finance upgrades to the existing system… A stormwater user fee establishes a direct link between the demand for stormwater services based on home size, driveway, and business and parking area square footage” (see page 51-52 at http://www.cityofknoxville.org/sustainability/esworkplan.pdf). 

“After receiving many phone calls and e-mails from concerned Knoxvillians, I wanted to voice my opposition to the city’s Stormwater Utility proposal,” said Mark Padgett. “From Charlotte to Chattanooga, similar approaches have proved to be little more than a monthly ‘rain tax’ that appears on your utility bill. During these tough economic times, I’m concerned this approach will push businesses out of the city while unnecessarily burdening families, churches and non-profit organizations. Someone can always come up with a good reason to create fees and raise taxes. Instead, my administration will focus on growing the local economy, cutting wasteful spending in city government and finding innovative financing methods to invest in neighborhoods and improve city services. I urge my opponent to clarify her position on this issue.”

In several radio interviews, Madeline Rogero stated that she has not proposed a rain tax and that she does not want one (http://votepadgett.com/lib/file/manager/RogeroWOKIAudio.mp3). However, according to her Metro Pulse questionnaire, “As mayor, I will implement the Energy and Sustainability Plan produced this past year by Mayor Haslam’s Energy and Sustainability Task Force, which I co-chaired” (http://www.metropulse.com/news/2011/sep/07/mayor-questionnaire-madeline-rogero/). 

As a reminder, the campaign has released a 28-page “Padgett Plan” (http://www.votepadgett.com/the-issues) and posted more than 50 videos on YouTube (www.YouTube.com/PadgettForMayor) to share Mark’s position on everything from codes enforcement and homelessness to red light cameras and parks/greenways.