IN COOK COUNTY IL County Which Includes City of Chicago Tax Politics Again Far Too Taxing!
IN COOK COUNTY IL County Which Includes City of Chicago Tax Politics Again Far Too Taxing!
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS VOTES OVERWHELMINGLY TO OVERTURN HIGHEST SALES TAX IN THE U.S. BUT BOARD PRESIDENT EXERCISES VETO!
Fresh on the heels of the controversy involving Former IL Governor Rod Blagojevich amid accusations of fiscal waste blatant nepotism and political patronage in Cook County IL Government comes yet another embarrassing political move by a top IL politician.
Last year the Cook County Board of Commissioners voted to increase its sales tax county wide. This brought the City of Chicago Sales Tax up to 10.25% – the highest rate of any big city in the country. Under pressure by Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and with threats of massive cuts to health care and other services countywide the Board appeared to capitulate and passed the controversial increase.
But the political mood here in Chicago and Cook County IL has changed!
We’re in the midst of a prolonged recession. Joblessness exceeds 9.1% in the Chicago Metro Area. The Real Estate Market continues to slump. Tax Revenues are down. And the 1.00% tax increase of one year ago is standing out as an insensitive tax increase at precisely the wrong time.
See the story as updated in today’s Chicago Tribune by Reporter Hal Dardick. Last week 12 of 15 voting Cook County Commissioners disagreed with President Stroger’s assessment that the high tax increase of 2008 was necessary to keep county services and health care at the same level. They have seen their constituents react with disgust with what these voters see as waste inefficiency and "politics as usual" in county spending and hiring.
Other major Cook County Office Holders have lined up on the side of those wanting the repeal. Included on that list of prominent Cook County Politicos – State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez County Sheriff Tom Dart Assessor James Houlihan and Treasurer Maria Pappas.
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley opined the repeal should go through and not be vetoed by President Stroger. The Mayor’s brother Cook County Finance Committee Chairman John Daley supported the county sales tax increase last year but this year voted to repeal it.
Therefore based on the 80% positive board vote the tax increase will be repealed – yes?
Well . . . NO!
County Board President Stroger elected to VETO the repeal. And according to Cook County Law it will take an 80% vote of the full Board of Commissioners – including the two board members not in attendance for the first repeal vote – to overturn his veto!
Most observers feel that such a veto override is highly unlikely! Sales Taxes across our county will remain exceedingly high prompting cross-border purchases of even some of the most basic items. The pressure to trim the county budget for excess at a time when virtually every Cook County and City of Chicago resident is being forced to do the same is lightened at the county level once again.
And Cook County IL remains a unique place where an 80% vote in favor of a major initiative can be overruled by the political maneuvering of only one politician!
Not something most of us here are proud of!
DEAN MOSS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO
