Politics

County Commissioners Fight Against Tax Hikes

County Board President's Proposed Budget Includes Increases In Sales, Gas And Parking Taxes

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Cook County commissioners are getting an earful about the plan to hike taxes for sales, gas and parking.

Stoking the fiery fury of local taxpayers is the fact that Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Mayor Richard M. Daley and Cook County's President Todd Stroger are each proposing record-breaking tax increases. Many have had enough.

As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, at least one county commissioner says he has an alternative.

Commissioner Mike Quigley calls this a perfect storm of taxation by various levels of government, and he says he has an alternative. He would like, at least in part, to make up for some of the revenue the county says it needs by consolidating offices. He says tens of millions of dollars could be saved for taxpayers that way.

Commissioner Forrest Claypool's chief of staff, Doug Kucia, said he's fielding 100 phone calls a day from people opposed to any tax increase.

"We're gonna fight against these tax proposals, because they're gonna hurt, stick it to the taxpayer," Kucia said. "You know, it's ridiculous."

Nearly 900 anti-tax e-mails had arrived by lunch time at the Claypool's office. It appeared Stroger's office was being contacted by thousands of the same sort of callers and writers, though a spokeswoman declined to confirm any numbers.

While she did complain about news outlets that had published Stroger's office telephone number, county board members told of confrontations with angry taxpayers everywhere.

"At the grocery store, on the street, at the health club, playing hockey, we're inundated," Quigley said. "They say don't raise taxes. Or, we can't handle any more."

Several Stroger allies argued that the outpouring of outrage had not changed their belief that county government needs a 2 percent sales tax increase, plus other new revenues.

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