Ald. Edward Burke, chairman of the City Council Finance Committee, said he wanted to exempt religious institutions and their schools from paying their water bills….
“We may have a political issue” with charging religious organizations for water, Burke told [Mayor Rahm] Emanuel’s finance team. “You might think about continuing waivers for some small Catholic parish or Lutheran parish or synagogue that is hard-pressed and see what the dollar-effect might be.”
Parochial schools and other religious institutions would pay about $7 million a year under Emanuel’s proposed changes, while public schools would continue to get free water, Budget Director Alexandra Holt said.
I can’t see the merit in that proposal. Charging churches for public/private services they consume is not the same as exempting them from taxes. Should they get free electricity? To the extent they get the free services, the costs are pushed back on the general population of consumers. Why should the general population be required to support a church they have no interest in?
I concur with # 1. Churches should not be allowed to become public obligations. This proposal amounts to an indirect tax on the general public in support of religious institutions.
I agree. Churches should pay for what they use.