Business Organizations Pleased with Preckwinkle's Preliminary Budget

By aaroncynic in News on Aug 26, 2011 9:20PM

Over a dozen local business organizations publicly endorsed the preliminary 2012 budget put forth by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. The Chicago Loop Alliance, Chicago and Cook County Chambers of Commerce, Illinois Retail Merchants Association and others sent a letter (Ed. Note: Read it here in PDF - CS) endorsing the budget based on the rollback of former county President Todd Stroger’s tax increase. In 2008, the Cook County Board passed a budget which included a 1% increase in sales tax, bringing Chicago’s overall sales tax to 10.25%, the largest in any major U.S. city.

“By maintaining your commitment to rolling back the County’s sales tax, you are helping to create an increasingly favorable economic climate for Cook County’s business and working families,” read the letter. Cook County’s current budget shortfall is $315.2 million.