Thread: Cook County, IL Broke Looking for More Tax Hikes

Cook County officials oppose further cutbacks

February 22, 2008

By steve patterson, Sun-Times News Group

There are just two pressing budget choices facing the Cook County Board next week - raise taxes or cut spending.

So when a few elected county officials stood strong Thursday in demanding that their budgets not be cut - and called on the public to join them in pressuring the board - it led to questions about whether those officials were supporting the alternative: raising taxes.

They wouldn't answer.

But they did describe the consequences - including closing courthouses and more rounds of layoffs - if further cuts are made.

None would voice support for a higher sales, gasoline, vehicle, parking, hotel or alcohol tax to keep the government operating while adding millions more dollars and more than 1,000 new employees to the payroll, as is now being proposed.

Commissioner John Daley (D-Chicago), chairman of the board's powerful finance committee, said those who have publicly supported higher taxes "got screwed" during subsequent political campaigns, so he doesn't blame others for not doing the same. Daley said he will support a higher sales tax to balance the county budget, but he's in the board minority.

The board has seven days left to pass a budget. While board President Todd Stroger needs just one more vote to pass a new sales tax, there hasn't been much budging among those opposed to it.

Stroger's office can't specifically say what will happen to county government if a budget isn't passed by Feb. 29, but some services would shut down.

Some commissioners say that's all empty threats, similar to those made during last year's budget crisis, designed to simply scare the public.

But Sheriff Tom Dart, State's Attorney Richard Devine, Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown and others insist the threats are real.

Dart said it would be "a monumental step backward" to make cuts on top of last year's cutbacks, while Public Defender Ed Burnette said "we owe it to taxpayers" not to allow more.

Burnette didn't have much to say, though, about a lawsuit he filed against Stroger last year, fighting any attempts to make him and his staff take unpaid days off as other county employees had to do. That lawsuit finds taxpayers paying for lawyers for both Burnette and Stroger.

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/80758 ... ty.article

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At what point do they realize that if they end the sanctuary policy insanity they would not be broke with taxpayers fleeing in droves?

Since these pols don't want to enforce the immigration laws, they should instead tax illegal employers $10,000 per illegal each year.

Weeeeeeeelllllllll...isn't that interesting, Chicago is a sanctuary city just like LA. Hmmmmmmmm, LA and all of California is in a 14 billion dollar plus deficit. Think that both LA and Chicago are in the toilet in large part because of their welcoming and protection and haven for illegal aliens? It will be very interesting to see the numbers come out, though, unlike LA, Chicago will do their best not to quantify the costs of illegal aliens in their midsts. Just for fun, here's LA figures:

Los Angels County:

10% of Los Angeles County residents are illegal aliens (the highest percentage of county residents in the country)

Illegal aliens cost the county greater than one billion dollars per year in taxpayer costs, not counting education.

Breakdown:
$444 million for welfare and food stamps
$400 million for health care
$220 million for correctional services, law enforcement and other public safety costs

New statistics from the Department of Public Social Services reveal that illegal aliens and their families in Los Angeles County collected over $37 million in welfare and food stamp allocations in November 2007, which is up $3 million dollars from September.

Children of illegal aliens receive 25% of welfare and food stamp money

---Mike Antonovich, LA County Supervisor

Guess services are going to have to be cut for everyone.

Taxpayers are paying enough already and they can always drive to a neighboring city's courthouse, hospital, malls etc.

Start firing public employees, cut salaries of the others, no bonuses,cut the school budget, all that.

OR they can eliminate all social programs for illegals, but we know they won't do that to their beloved illegals. Even tho, they are the biggest drain on taxes.

I look forward to seeing them go banktrupt for all of thier illegal activities...

corruption rules in these sanctuarys and they are getting what they paid for

They deserve to go bankrupt for all their handouts to illegal immigrants.

When they support the IAs they harm all of America, not just Cook County.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap!!!!!

Illinois state government has prohibited employers from using E-Verify. Homeland Security has filed suit. E-Verify should be mandatory. Government payrolls and government contractors should be the first to use it.

Does anyone know when the Social Security no-match letters with immigration notice is going to be sent to employers. A federal judge in San Fran has held it up.

Originally Posted by tubby

Illinois state government has prohibited employers from using E-Verify. Homeland Security has filed suit. E-Verify should be mandatory. Government payrolls and government contractors should be the first to use it.

Does anyone know when the Social Security no-match letters with immigration notice is going to be sent to employers. A federal judge in San Fran has held it up.

The court case, stay of execution granted by a Fed judge not allowing DHS to send out the letters, should be heard within the next few weeks (sometime in March).

Chicago is as corrupt as it comes. Illegals don't help the situation but even if they weren't there Chicago would still be short of funds. I thought the days of the Mafia and all were gone but I don't think anyone in government here has an honest bone in their body. Illegals are welcome because they fit right in.....don't squeel on me and I won't squeel on you. Stay off my back and I'll stay off yours. Right now Daley has 1 thing on his mind....he wants the Olympics and he is going to have it by hook or crook. His "Legacy" is at stake. He's selling the city right out from under itself and taxing decent people to death. Now Daley has stretched his hand to taxing "collar counties" to pay for Chicagos problems and fund his endeavors. Many have wished there was a way for the rest of Illinois to split from Chicago and let it manage on it's own. Let them live in their mess and keep everyone else out of their created problems. We already know 1 alderman has a direct link to Mexico and it's cartels....to think they are not entertwined is insane.

You are all right! Chicago / Cook County are as crooked, as crooked comes. Chicago and Cook County are really one in the same. The city makes up about 85% of the county, and us ‘peons’ in suburban Cook Country just get the shaft time and time again. I live in an unincorporated area of suburban Cook County so all our services are County level, which costs more then the local suburban cities pay for things like police and fire. Yet it’s harder to get service when needed. I have to call the County Sheriff if I need police help. But unless it’s a major crime they just may not show up until the next day (If at all). I have called them on a load Mexican Mariachi band playing very load to all hours of the night last summer, and I’m still waiting. If you were to need medical help from the county hospital (Stronger Hospital), you most likely be the only non-Spanish speaking patient there.

So we get less for our dollar, but our property tax bill still reads “Turn around and bend overâ€