Results tagged “taxrollback”

Yesterday, Cook County Board President Board president Todd Stroger once again promised to veto last week's half-percent sales tax roll back passed by commissioners. Asked about a possible veto override by the commissioners, Stroger told CBS 2, "I hope that what's good for the county is done by the commissioners." Unfortunately for Stroger and his supporters, there's a new law now in effect which means the Board only needs to provide 11 votes to override Strogers veto instead of the previous threshold of 14. Stroger plans to announce his veto at a noon press conference in front of the main entrance of Stroger Hospital, accompanied by nurses, doctors, clergy, and community members.

After all the huffing and puffing earlier this week over the new tax rollback, the Cook County Board still managed to pass its 2010 budget yesterday and there were no new taxes included. The budget, valued at $3 billion, does include that new half-percent tax rollback - from 1.75 percent to 1.25 percent. Though the battle over the veto and override still hovers on the horizon.

With a new law in effect limiting the number of votes required to override a Stroger veto, the Cook County Commissioners took another crack at rolling back the sales tax increase by one percent has fallen short. According to a tweet from Com. Tony Peraica, the votes were 10 NOs, 6 YESes, and 1 absent. In another tweet, Peraica identified the YES votes as himself and Commissioners Claypool, Gorman, Goslin, Schneider, and Silvestri.

After a summer filled with debate amongst the Cook County Commissioners in regards to the sales tax rollback, Board President Todd Stroger's veto, and the commissioners inability to garner enough votes to override said veto, the state legislature has gotten involved. Yesterday, both the House (by a 66-49 vote) and the Senate (by a 49-1 vote) passed a bill that sets the new requirement for a veto override at three-fifths of the commissioners (11) rather than the current requirement of fourth-fifths (14). Now all that's left is for Gov. Quinn to sign it. The bill was specifically aimed at Stroger and the tax rollback. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge), said, "This is a great win for taxpayers in Cook County." Stroger spokeswoman Chris Geovanis said, "We're disappointed that the legislature chose not to use logic and decided to change the rules in the middle of the game." Stroger has previously said he would fight any such legislation in court if it was passed.

This morning, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger appeared on Fox's Good Day Chicago alongside Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims. Sims, of course, was the swing-vote whose change of heart led to the failure to repeal Stroger's veto of the county tax rollback. While our favorite highlight is the look Jan Jeffcoat gives Stroger at the 6:08 mark while David Novarro sparrs with Stroger. Another one worth noting comes at 8:24 when Stroger vehemently grades himself: "I've done an A+ [job]."

The Cook County Commission's bid to repeal President Todd Stroger's veto of the tax rollback has fallen short. Commissioner Tony Peraica, one of the most Stroger critics on the board, has come down hard on Commissioner Deborah Sims via his Twitter feed, indicating that her change of heart was the difference maker:

...state trooper Edwin Reyes. The 46-year old was selected after a four-hour meeting today. He'll be thrown right into the fray tomorrow with the Commission's vote on the tax rollback, which Reyes says he supports. Should be fun. [S-T, Trib]

Besides the controversial marijuana decriminalization, the Cook County Board also tackled another tax rollback but unlike last time they might succeed in getting it past President Storger thanks to a veto-proof majority. The measure rolls back the tax by half a percentage point, from 10.25 percent to 9.75 percent. The measure passed by a vote of 12-2 with one present vote and Commissioners Peraica and Claypool absent, but both of those commissioners have said they will vote to override Stroger's expected veto at the Board's September meeting. UPDATE: Per Peraica's twitter, the vote was 13-3 with 1 absent. The Sun-Times has more information including a full break down of the vote.