Church of Peace v. City of Rock Island

This action was brought by a group of churches to challenge the ordinance of the City of Rock Island (the City) which imposes a storm water service charge on property owners. The circuit court of Rock Island County granted the City’s motion for summary judgment and denied the plaintiffs’ summary judgment motion. The plaintiffs appeal, maintaining that the circuit court erred in finding that the City’s storm water service charge was a fee and not a tax on real property, from which the plaintiffs are exempt by express provision of the Illinois Property Tax Code. 35 ILCS 200/15 — 40(a) (West…