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County Sales Tax Rollback Vetoed - Here We Go Again
Amid criticism and sermons, the Cook County Board voted 9-7 this afternoon to defer until mid-October any further action on theproposed two percent sales tax increase. So while the tax hike isn't off the table yet, the deadline for first-quarter tax increases was today under state law — which means any increase that may happen won't take effect until April 1, 2008, at the earliest. (The county's fiscal year ends November 30.) County Commissioner Roberto Maldanado was the deciding vote, retaliating against Todd Stroger and William Beavers for threatening to suspend a resolution he co-sponsored declaring Cook County a sanctuary for immigrants. "I took that as an insult to me personally and to all [Latino] people," Maldanado told the Sun Times.
While the two percent tax hike might not be a sure thing today, there is still room for negotiation, which Maldanado has said he would consider. One place where the county hasn't been looking to make cuts is in the office budgets of county commissioners. A report in the Sun-Times today showed that only a handful of county commissioners cut their own staff budgets by the 17 percent demanded earlier this year.
Deferring passage of this of this tax increase doesn't make the county's work any easier, but it gives Mayor Daley a little more breathing room for his budget. Earlier today he told aldermen that he wants to raise property taxes by $108 million. Chicago is looking to close a $217 million budget gap.
Image via Cook County.
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Regardless of what one thinks of immigrant sanctuary legislation it was completely stupid of Stroger and Beavers to alienate a swing vote. When the tax increase is reintroduced it will probably be for half the amount they previously requested.
For this mess, we can thank those who sat on their hands instead of showing up to vote for Forrest Claypool in the primary against Todd Stroger.
We can also thank those solid Democrat or Democrat-leaning voters who voted for Todd Stroger over Tony Peraica. "Vote for a Republican?" you said to yourselves. "Never."
Pleae, next election, keep an open mind, even if you are a Democrat. I disagree with Peraica on his anti-choice and anti-gay positions. However, Peraica would NOT have been able to do any damage in those arenas. That's right. Those of you would couldn't stomach Peraica on abortion rights or gay rights did not prevent ANYTHING by voting for Stroger.
Now, thanks to that "never vote for a Republican" mentality we have a County government that is bleeding taxpayers and businesses, pushing shoppers and industry out of Cook County. Next time, please keep an open mind.
Ward Up,
Todd Stroger wasn't on the primary ballot. His all-but-dead daddy, John Stroger, was even though he'd just suffered a stroke and was probably still drooling all over himself.
Otherwise, I agree with you 100%. It was beyond time to get rid of the Stroger family and their disgusting "friends & family" patronage program.
I voted for Claypool and then Peraica, despite having never voted for a Republican in my life.
"criticism" link is broken.
Oops, I have the wrong Stroger mentioned in the first sentence of my post above. As most know, Forrest Claypool actually lost to the unseen, stroke-stricken John Stroger in the Democratic Primary.
Then, by the time of the general election, Todd Stroger was anointed by party bosses. to take the place of his father. Then Peraica lost to Tood Stroger.
The crook Co. Tax payer gets what they deserve you do what your told and vote like lemmings. The stroger and daley clans are fleecing the taxpayers and yet they get the votes every four years. Crime and corruption lousy city and county services are what you deserve. Taxes would not have to be raised if 100s of millions of tax dollars werent being diverted to daleys developer pals via TIF districts. We are getting ripped off.
I took that as an insult to me personally and to all [Latino] people," Maldanado
priceless