Oct 14, 2008 10:54 am US/Central
Loop Parking May Be Getting More Expensive
City Proposal Would Hike Tax To 33 Percent
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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If a city proposal is approved, the tax on parking in garages and lots like this will rise from 27 percent to 33 percent.
CBS
Parking in the Loop is a pricey proposition as it is, but Mayor Richard M. Daley wants to make it even more expensive with a new tax increase.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, some Chicagoans are so upset about the idea that they held a protest on Tuesday.
The parking industry says taxes have been raised six times in the past 12 years, and they have no choice but to pass that cost onto the drivers. They said the expenses incurred from the new tax could price some motorists out of parking at all.
As motorists entered the Lake/Wells Self Park Facility, 175 W. Lake St, workers handed out flyers and encouraged them to call their local aldermen and fight the increase. They say Chicago has the second highest parking tax in the country, and with the new proposal it could rise from 27 percent to 33 percent.
The only U.S. city with a higher parking tax is Pittsburgh, where the tax is 45 percent. Before dropping a year ago, the Pittsburgh tax had been 50 percent.
Parking attendants told their customers prices would go up if they did not raise their voices. As it is, the average parking garage rate in Chicago is nearly $300 per month, more if you pay by the day. The tax hike would increase that amount by about $15 per month.
"It's $30 a day, so that can get pricey pretty quick, especially if they raise it," said motorist Ron Martin.
Parking companies say prices are out of control.
"A big portion of that right now is between the city and county taxes. People don't really realize that," said Jim Doria of InterPark.
And some Chicagoans just say they have had enough taxes.
"We are getting hit from all sides, and this is another side that's getting hit. It's unfortunate, but I take the train and don't worry about it," said Randy Banks.
But some motorists didn't think taxes were the only factor to blame for high parking prices.
"Of course they're going to say, 'Complain the alderman,' because it's the taxes, then the people on the watch don't look like the bad guys. They can make the politicians look like the bad guys," Smith said. "But it's a little bit of both."
"It's always the taxes; they always find a reason why it's going so high," Petrusky said. "What are you going to do?"
Mayor Daley has proposed the Loop parking tax to help close a massive budget shortfall. He has also proposed hiking the city's two-tiered amusement tax from 4 to 5 percent for mid-sized venues, and 8 to 9 percent for large sporting venues.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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