Thread: COOK COUNTY PARKING TAX HIKE COULD BE NEXT

After county budget deal, parking tax hike could be next

March 2, 2008

BY STEVE PATTERSON AND MONIFA THOMAS , Sun-Times News Group

Now that the Cook County Board has raised Chicago's sales tax to one of the nation's highest, commissioners say they plan to consider hiking the parking tax, too.

A parking tax increase was discussed as a possible fundraising option ahead of Friday's budget meeting, but it didn't come up for a vote before the board adjourned early Saturday.

After the marathon meeting, commissioners said they expect the board to revisit the idea of doubling the county parking tax this week. That could drive the tax for monthly parkers from about $20 a month to $40.

Cook County taxpayers already are in for a 1 percentage point increase in the sales tax that would bring Chicago's overall sales tax to 10.25 percent, among the highest of any big city in America. And the new sales tax passed Saturday will be enacted just in time for the Christmas shopping season.

Civic Federation President Laurence Msall called the possibility of raising the parking tax, in addition to the sales tax increase, "arrogant, inconsiderate and illogical."

"The taxpayers and citizens are not convinced that the county is spending the $3 billion it already receives as effectively and efficiently as possible, and now it's raising taxes at a level even higher than (Cook County Board President Todd Stroger) has stated was needed," Msall said.

The Cook County Board passed the sales tax increase by a vote of 9 to 8 early Saturday after a day of heavy negotiating, shouting matches and bruised egos. Commissioners had until midnight Friday to approve a balanced budget.

After ratifying the sales tax vote, commissioners approved the the entire budget by a vote of 10 to 7.

Stroger successfully passed the new tax by agreeing to give up control of the county hospital system that long has been a patronage dumping ground for decades' worth of politicians. In exchange, Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston) agreed to provide the swing vote for the sales tax.

Under the plan, 14 officials from the medical, civic and labor communities will pick 20 nominees to a hospital governing board. From there, Stroger will pick nine, to be approved by the county board. The new governing board will sit for at least three years.

Msall said the change in hospital governance is encouraging, but it doesn't justify the tax hike.

A 1 percent sales tax will bring in $71 million this year and $400 million every year after.

Commissioners filled a $234 million deficit by borrowing against next year's surplus. That surplus likely means Stroger, who promised this budget will now allow for "real reform," can avoid having to seek a tax increase in 2009 and possibly 2010, when he's up for re-election.

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/82144 ... lo.article


Just when you thought the insanity couldn't get any worse.

I don't know why anyone would even want to live there anymore. It is just unbelievable how they tax them to literal death. Heck....now their tapping us "collar counties" to fund their mess.

I wouldn't live in that city if my life depended on it .. corruption breeds corruption

Perhaps I can use this as an example at my union meeting. Our Local's president was just admonishing us last month that we should not complain about some proposed new local tax in our city. Well, raising taxes to provide for proven community needs and to provide for the emplyment of US citizens is one thing. Raising new taxes to provide for the social services AND employment opportunities of illegals is far different. This is the true scourge of liberalism:
RAISING TAXES ON US CITIZENS FOR THE FINAL PURPOSE OF BENEFITING ILLEGAL ALIENS!