An excerpt from an editorial that appeared in the Daily Herald.com, Wednesday, November 16th:
If all goes as it should, something astonishing in the annals of Cook County government will happen this Friday. For the second year in a row, the county budget will decline, the county board president will keep a campaign [...]
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An excerpt from a story appearing in the Chicago Tribune.com, Tuesday, November 15th:
More than a dozen fee and tax hikes sought by Cook County Board PresidentToni Preckwinkle sailed through a first test Monday, setting up final approval of her proposed budget at [...]
Continue Reading →An excerpt from a letter to the editor as it appeared at Chicago Tribune.com, Tuesday, November 9th:
As a small business owner in Cook County, I know firsthand that with the slumping economy, business is tough. The 2008 sales tax hike in Cook County only made things worse, but the news of Continue Reading →
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle was joined by Dr. Ramanathan Raju, CEO of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System and leaders in the medical community today at Stroger Hospital to urge the Cook County Board of Commissioners to approve a proposed alcohol tax and an expansion of the tobacco tax in [...]
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Cook County incorporated residents are subsidizing the police services of unincorporated residents – thus pay for 2 police forces – one that serves them, and one that serves only unincorporated residents
Background:
•2% of Cook County (98,000 residents) live in Unincorporated Cook County •Unincorporated areas have higher median incomes ($60K vs. $53K) than [...]
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The tax tiers within the parking tax will be aligned with the City of Chicago, making it easier for parking companies in Chicago to comply with the tax and laying the groundwork for additional City-County collaboration for tax enforcement and audits.
Background:
•The ordinance imposes a tax upon the parking charge paid [...]
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After meeting with County Commissioners, municipal leaders, township officials, and hearing from constituents throughout Cook County, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced the formation of a 13-member taskforce tasked with examining costs and services provided to unincorporated Cook County and ending the unincorporated tax subsidy. This taskforce will evaluate opportunities to [...]
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Cook County has been using Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) revenues on a pay-as-you-go basis. By bonding off MFT revenues, Cook County can create a pool of capital funds for capital infrastructure investments for suburban roads, in turn creating jobs while potentially being viewed as a positive by rating agencies
Background:
•In 2012, [...]
Continue Reading →The County will begin regulating gaming machines to curb instances of illegal gambling, especially by minors. The ordinance creates a per-machine tax on machines that are used as a game, entertainment or amusement.
Background:
•The ordinance requires all amusement devices owned and operated in Cook County to be regulated by the County. •Prize generating [...]
Continue Reading →The Tobacco Tax ordinance currently only applies to cigarettes. The tax will be expanded to other tobacco products. “Roll your own” tobacco products will be taxed on a per ounce base just like cigarettes.
Background:
•Tax rate on Cigarettes will not change, only the tax base will expand •The tax stamps are imposed on wholesalers, [...]
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