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Stroger to Restaurants: Eat This!

By vouchey in News on Jan 6, 2005 6:00PM

stroger2.jpg"Dead on arrival." -- County Commissioner Larry Suffredin commenting on budget

And perhaps for the second time in ten years, Cook County Board President John ("I have a hospital named after me") Stroger may not have the votes to pass his proposed county budget (download exciting copies here). The sticking point for the $3.05 billion budget is over $78 million in new taxes, primarily a two percent increase in restaurant and hotel sales tax, putting restaurant sales taxes in Chicago at 9.75%, and hotels at 17.4%.

Not suprisingly, restaurant owners are howling about the increase, as well as the Chamber of Commerce. "First the state of Illinois, then the city of Chicago and now Cook County. Enough is enough," said Gerald Roper, president of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.

The battle lines have been drawn. Now we'll see if Stroger can squeek through this one.

Photo via Cook County Board.

Board PresidentChicagoChicagoland ChamberCook CountyCook County BoardCook County Board PresidentCounty BoardCounty Board PresidentCounty Board President JohnCounty CommissionerCounty Commissioner Larry SuffredincountycommissionerlarrysuffredinhospitalhotelsLarry SuffredinNews: Chicagotaxesthe city

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