Wieneke's Wheel Tax Revisited - Podzimek's Folly

I posted Wieneke's Wheel Tax this morning after hearing Wieneke on the radio. Since then I have learned more about it. The Gazette had an article on the front page about it this morning.

First I was vague about whether the scope was Linn County or the city of Cedar Rapids. I know Wieneke is on the City Council but I wanted to be sure. The absurdity of pitting Cedar Rapids against Marion and  Hiwatha seemed implausible to me. Yet, that is exactly what Wieneke is suggesting.

Further, Wieneke is not alone in making this absurd proposal, he is joined by councilman Tom Podzimek. As it turns out, the courageous duo are the only two council members not up for re-election.

It turns out that Podzimek had a further suggestion. According to the Gazette,

Podzimek also asked City Manager Jim Prosser about establishing a system of payment, in lieu of taxes, that would attempt to raise revenue from hospitals, churches, colleges, non-profits and others “not contributing to this system” because they are exempt from paying property taxes.

Payment in lieu of taxes? If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck — then it is a tax. Even more telling is Podzimek's phrase — not contributing to the system. Someone should tell our area churches, St. Lukes and Mercy, Coe, Mt. Mercy and Kirkwood, The United Way, Habitat for Humanity and Serve the City — that they are not contributing, that  they are not carrying their weight.

Perhaps Mr. Podzimek is suggesting that the city would be better off without these freeloading parasites? It's really too bad that Mr. Podzimek is not up for re-election this cycle.