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* Tempers appear to be a bit on the high side in suburban Cook County…
After calling on Cook County Board President Todd Stroger to personally “explain himself” for pushing through a sales tax increase, some angry Palatine Village Council members said they had an even better idea — secede from the county.
Talk of tax revolt was in the air this week as officials, business owners and taxpayers throughout the region voiced outrage. But perhaps nowhere was the outrage more visible than in communities that share a border with lower-tax counties.
I had forgotten all about this…
Several northwest suburban leaders proposed creating a new entity — Lincoln County — in the 1970s, and Palatine Councilman Jack Wagner said it was time to explore that again. “This is getting out of hand,” Wagner said. “We can’t afford it.” […]
“It makes it very difficult for us to generate the revenue we have in the past,” said Schaumburg Village Manager Ken Fritz.Although more recent efforts toward secession have focused on southwest suburbs, for years the movement was pushed by Wendell Jones, former Palatine mayor and state senator. His successor in the statehouse, Republican Sen. Matt Murphy, recently proposed a bill that would make it easier for Illinois townships to vote to split off from counties. […]
The Lincoln County proposal is going to be sort of hard to do,” said McLeod, whose town competes with cheaper locales in Kane and Lake Counties. “Sure, they can make some hay with it, but the powers-that-be aren’t going to let this area go.”
* Even Public Radio is getting into the fiery populist act, running a story today on how just days after the County Board passed a huge tax hike, commissioners are looking to double the parking tax even though they get free parking for themselves….
So if you pay for monthly parking in a garage—the tax on your spot would go from right around 20 bucks to 40. If you park for a day and the county taxes you $1, you would pay 2. Pretty straightforward. […]
When commissioners and many of their staffers park downtown, they get to park in the garage under the Daley Center for free. There are even extra spots for Board President Todd Stroger and Finance Committee Chairman John Daley offices.
So if they approve the tax your parking would double—theirs would still be free. The proposal could be considered as soon as Thursday.
* And the Chicago Reader is enraged and disillusioned…
Larry Suffredin reminds us once again that there is no such thing as an effective and pure reformer in Chicago. And anyone who claims to be one is going to end up a liar. […]
After years of marketing himself as a reformer, he had to decide whether to stand tall on his soapbox as the county government shut down or flip-flop and make a deal that would increase Cook County’s sales tax.
He decided to flip, and the criticism was immediate and withering. Given his history of vowing resistance to tax hikes, it was also fair. […]
He also argues that some of his critics in the media didn’t want to see a budget passed. “They’re disappointed because I think they really did want to see the government shut down.”
It’s an old trick to blame the media for your political problems, and Suffredin can be criticized at least as much as he can be credited for the terms of the deal he cut.
From the tone of that piece, it looks like Suffredin was right about the media and the shutdown.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:15 am
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One of George Dunne’s things he was famous for (aside from his staff antics) was “killing” the Lincoln County thing by trying to make them pay for the Cook Co forest preserves in that area.
Of course, you’d then need to account for how much of that was bought with that area’s money….
But in truth, if they couldn’t do it in the 80s and early 90s, how can they now? Lots more D control now than at that time!
Comment by Pat collins Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:19 am
eh, a week of bluster, then all will be back to normal. We just aren’t used to paying the tax increase yet.
Next week we will.
Comment by Leroy Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:30 am
I understand Suffrdin’s office has been barraged by e-mails and phone calls. Is there an organized effort by someone/some organization to teach him a lesson.
Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:38 am
Actually, we have until Nov before the tax hike takes effect, I beleive. I heard the Palatine guy on WLS and he seemd reasonable. He knows it may be a pie in the sky idea, but is simply looking into it.
In Palatine the tax will be 10% across the street in Lake it will be 7%.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:44 am
Thanks, Larry, for “standing up to Todd Stroger’s tax increases.” Didn’t take you long after losing the SA’s race to swing a deal to give Stroger what he wants, did it?
While you would think this was the last straw with tax increases, they’re greedily looking for even more: an increased parking tax, a county vehicle sticker (ok, then, fix the damned county roads already), etc. What I would like to know is: what does the average suburban homeowner receive from Cook County in return for his tax dollars? Not much that THIS suburban homeowner can think of, that’s for sure. 33 cents out of every dollar the county extorts from me goes to the county health system for Chicago’s poor and uninsured, while I’m killing myself to afford health coverage for my own family. County highways are supposed to be maintained with another portion of it, but I keep busting tires out on the potholes that lay there for months at a time. If I want to use the courts, I have to pay for the privilege, and Stroger raised those fees (taxes), too. So, tell me, what’s left? They don’t pick up my garbage. They don’t provide me with police and fire protection (and if you say unincorporated areas get Sheriff’s police, I respond, let THEM pay for it!!!). They don’t trim my trees.
At least I’m lucky enought to have health insurance. Many “middle class” families just can’t afford it, yet they have to pay for health services to Chicago’s poor that they themselves have to do without. And, in this era, I really don’t see the link between Chicago and the suburbs … other than going to a sports event, most suburbanites just don’t go to the city any more. The jobs (what’s left of them) are in the burbs. So, why are we saddled with subsidizing Chicago’s squalor???
I think that the suburbs should split into 2 or 3 additional counties. There are more people in the suburbs than in the city, yet the county seems to operate primarily for the city’s benefit and at the expense of the burbs. But, we all know that this will never happen, since Daley and company will never let their cash cow be led off to another pasture.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:45 am
.
“Three year hospital commission” is laughable.
Watch for Big Larry not to run again, but to get a safe judicial seat, a swanky appointive job with one of the many County agencies, or a highly paid contract consulting job.
Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:45 am
I am happy that all County residence will pay this increase as opposed to an income or real estate tax increase.
I am also happy I work near the edge of Cook County and can shop and buy most things outside the county.
Finally, I am appalled by the arrogance of the Democratric Party-my party. If we want to see a blue state turn red just keep up the tax increases. This vote and Daley’s antics will do more for the Repulican Party than Blogo’s goofiness ever could.
Comment by Garp Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:47 am
If Forrest Claypool runs against Todd in the 2010 Primary, who does Berrios and the Machine recruit to run as the 2d white candidate to ensure Todd’s re-election?
Comment by Ravenswood Right Winger Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:52 am
The psychological effect of having the highest sales tax in the nation stings. I live Near West Suburbs, but for years I’ve gameplanned to buy essentials — gas, smokes, beer — when I can reasonably skip over to Indiana, Lake or DuPage.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 9:57 am
Chicago turning red? Yeah, it will take a lot for people so blue to get off their addiction to liberalism.
BTW, what does it take for a township to break away and form their own county?
Comment by Crimefighter Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:00 am
Thanks to President Stroger, Commissioner Daley, and the other Commissioners who voted to maintain and improve the level of county services, particularly in the areas of health care and public salety. A minimal tax increase (.01 per dollar) is a small and worthwhile price to pay to ensure that Cook County residents will have access to the Stroger Hospital health system and so that the offices of sheriff, states attorney, the courts and penal systems will be adequately funded.
We, the people of Cook County, salute and thank you. As for the right wing dissidents led by Forrest (Gump) Claypool and that other two faced so-called Dem, bring it on!
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:00 am
James, I would say to start scouting the county payroll for a few new Suffredin or Schakowski hires in the $75k-$100k range. I’d also watch to see which of Larry’s pals will be appointed to that new oversight commission. You might be right about the appointment or consultant contracts, but I don’t see Suffredin taking a judgeship, since he might not be able to keep lobbying if he does, and that’s where his bread is buttered.
The problem I have with Larry S. is the lobbyist mentality, the “state legislature” way of doing business, he brings to the county board. He may go politicing on how he stands up for what’s right, but in the end, every Stroger outrage is just an opportunity for another “deal” to be cut. That may work for a statewide legislative body, but that just doesn’t help us here in Crook County.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:00 am
Bill,
Please, tell me your comments were “tongue-in-cheek.”
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:02 am
Anybody with any common sense could look at the County Board in the weeks leading up to the tax vote and KNOW, JUST KNOW, that Suffredin would be the weakling to bail Stroger out. He is the furthest thing from a reformer on that board. A booming baritone and a mean-looking beard doesn’t mean you’re tough. Tough would be standing aside Quigley and Claypool. Weak is compromising with Stroger in exchange for a promise that an “independent” board will run the health services for three years. The Tribune quickly reported who the proposed independent group was. Suffredin surely got more than this sorry excuse of a compromise. Sure sounds perfidious to me.
Comment by chiatty Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:04 am
I kind of agree with Garp. I am glad that this is a fair tax increase as all are victims of it. The people who will receive the benefits of it have to pay it as well. It is not some property or income tax that only affects people making over a certain income or hoemowners, but everyone. I’l be shopping in Dupage a bit more.
Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:09 am
Hi, I’m 6′4″. A big man, however, if I seem to be slumping a bit it is because someone removed my spine.
Comment by Garp Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:12 am
Although I have no use for Todd Stroger,some tax increase was necessary and inevitable to fund labor cost increases. I don’t know what the minimum magic tax increase number was or should have been. We get nickel and dimed to death because the State won’t fund a greater share of local education expensess, freeing up local tax bases to fund other services, as well as furnishing some significant property tax relief.
Personally,I was pleased that the County Board ceded control of the Health Servioces Bureau to an independent governing body, as part of the deal. IF nothing else, this reform was a very important symbolic change, and presumably it will do some good in turning the County’s health care operations around. Absent this trade-off, Suffridin’s compromise support for a tax increase would have unconscionable. We’ll see if it really happens - the devil is always in the details. The Cook County Board is and always has been a terrible governing body, given tis limited understanding of complex health care operations. Three years probably isn’t enoough to get the job done - I would have preferred a permanent transfer of governing authority.
Comment by Captain America Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:26 am
Read the fine print, Captain America. The County Board ceded absolutely nothing. Everything that currently goes to the County Board - contracts over $25,000, payment of bills, the budget - still has to go to the County Board. It will just have to go to the “independent” board, first. The County’s personnel code still applies, so all hires have to be signed off by the President - Stroger. Nothing changes. Suffredin will call this a “big reform” because it’s his fig leaf, but don’t fall for it.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:47 am
It is indeed possible.
The hard cheese comes when every general obligation Cook County, Forest Preserve, and Water Reclamation Bond Issue plus any taxing district which crosses the line between the new Lincoln and Cook is split levied.
Every existing Bond issue above reperesents a lien against all properties and will be paid pro rata by all taxpayers who were originally in old Cook County.
The State establishes the damned multiplier (which should be abolished.)which transforms AV into EAV (Cook last year was 2.7008, basically because of under asessment of residential. Lake, for instance was 1.0, because they work at it on a Township level) But cross County line taxing bodies, usually school districts, have an additional adjustment factor to weight burden between properties in each County which are in the same District. (We should abolish that too.)
So there is no sliding out from under that by taxpayers in the new Lincoln County. Future Bond issues of course will be paid only by taxpayers in the new Cook County.
The tough financial analysis will be on the pension fund levies. It looks as though that will be all Cook responsibilities, and the County employees who transfer into the Lincoln County staff will have to have their benefits made portable to the date of transfer. I don’t know enough to suggest how this Gordian knot will be cut.
For the rest, Lincoln will apphave to set up a tax collection system approrpiate for their needs. The oddity will be the necessity for the CTA bail out legislation to amend it to include Lincoln among the collar counties.
New County residents will have to pay out of county fees to use pay as you go Cook County facilities. Regarding the Forest Preserves which will be in the new Lincoln County — the obligations of the latter to pay CCFPD Bond are as mentioned above. Whether Lincoln wants to establish a new Lincoln FPD is up to them.
Those are the thorniest of issues. I am sure it is incomplete. And that is more than you ever wanted to know.
Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 10:57 am
James,
I have to agree with the pragmatism of what you’re saying. In effect, that Crook County pols have taken on so much debt to subsidize their graft, and so much liability for pensions for their patronage army, that a new county could be unviable because of the taxation required just to pay Crook County’s debts, and to fund the pension obligations until the last remaining patronage worker dies, perhaps some time around the year 2100. Still, you’ve gotta start somewhere, and at least are great-grandchildren may find themselves free of all vestiges of Crook County’s shackles.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:06 am
The defining issue in Cook County is no longer the patronage army, it’s the union army. The union bosses are clearly calling the shots, and the politicians fearful of their futures, like Suffredin, are dancing to their tune.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:14 am
Bill,
Thank you for expressing the increase in fractional terms. Now it doesn’t seem so big! You should advise Bush to discuss how annual Iraq-specific appropriations are only about 1% of GDP.
I’ve noticed that this is one of the few local political items that’s generated outrage among my very non-political colleagues.
Comment by Greg Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:28 am
You’re welcome,Greg. Although I must say that I prefer to consider the Iraq spending as $4 BILLION per week. That’s a little different than the few hundred million per year the sales tax enhancement will raise.
Your non-political friends will get over it in a few days and will be ok until they become enraged about the huge increase in state taxes that will be coming in the near future.
Comment by Bill Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:37 am
Well, Bill, on the income tax item, that’s got my firm talking about re-locating, or, more likely, opening another office elsewhere. So I do assume that those discussions would overwhelm the sales tax talk.
Comment by Greg Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:39 am
The use of the word reform in the same sentence as Chicago/Cook county continues to raise gales of laughter.
Chicago style politics are clearly demonstrated by William Beaver’s attitude of we want ours or no one else gets theirs.
It is not a matter of providing services to the residents of the community, it is a matter of siphoning off the resources intended for the needy to the benefit of the anointed class. Over the years the army of the unnecessary has grown to a point that the taxpayers cannot afford it any longer.
While it is arguable that the media wanted a shutdown of the County government (because it would make a great story,) the truth is that the only path toward sanity is flattening the governmental structures while continuing to provide essential services. The status quo must be starved in order to move forward.
Illinois has far too many governmental units. Each unit needs its own Board and President, not to mention the omnipresent full time staff who need salaries, benefits and pensions.
Lets apply the same business practices which allow businesses to provide their services at lower administrative costs to government. Fewer departments will lead to lower expenses. The goal should be like that of a measure of efficiency that charitable organizations use. e.g. what percentage of what is collected goes to services rather than overhead.
Lets end the practices of benefits in government which are not mirrored in private organizations. Put an end to free parking, free gas to commute to work, government paid vehicles for commuting purposes. End the junkets which only reinforce the egos of the ruling class. Millions can be saved instantly. We will immediately see more money available to the people who need legitimate services.
Lets stop Jim Thompson and his cronies from providing a sweetheart deal in ‘buying’ Wrigley. Today’s stories try to paint a picture that envisions an upgraded facility ‘at no cost’. Anyone who has half a brain knows that hundreds of millions of dollars have to come from somewhere. The only parties which will benefit are the Chicago Tribune and the future owners of the Cubs. That means that everyone else will lose. Any diversion of public dollars to that purpose will have to be made up by other revenue sources. We have learned that when TIFF revenues are frozen in a district, those outside of the district have to pony up more for the services used by all.
Comment by plutocrat03 Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 11:59 am
I am so glad I wasn’t fooled by Suffredin’s reformist posturing during the SA race…I wanted to keep him in County government so he could ally himself with Quigley and Claypool against Todd’s tax increase…in light of his recent vote to support the increase, I guess I was really expecting way too much from him…
Comment by Anonymous45 Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 12:00 pm
panda express field?
Comment by rezko Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 12:53 pm
Today’s Wall Street Journal editorial entitled “Second City No More” is not a glowing review of our city, but a commentary on the sad state of being overtaxed to pay for too many patronage jobs that aren’t needed in the first place. If we think our mess doesn’t get noticed outside of the county or state, guess what, it does. Why would a business leader reading that editorial, and all the business leaders read the Journal, want to locate their company here.
Comment by Niles Township Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:12 pm
Poor Schaumburg. They may actually have to impose a city property tax. Eliminate residential property tax exemptions and the problem solves itself.
Comment by puzzler Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:25 pm
Puzzler,
So, you’re saying that since Schaumburg has been run well enough to develop enough of a commercial base to relieve its residents of the burden of a municipal property tax, they should now have to penalize their citizens and lose the benefit of good governance because the County Board can’t get its act together???
Sounds like a jealousy issue to me.
Comment by Snidely Whiplash Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 1:40 pm
I would love to see how “Lincoln County” jails and prosecutes its criminals, provides health care to its poor and uninsured citizens, and performs the every day tasks of deed registration, tax collection, property assesment, etc. Good luck Lincoln County, your gonna need it.
Comment by 2for2 Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 2:10 pm
2for2, every other county in this state and others seems to have found a way to do the things you mention. I would say Lincoln County would do it in the same manner as Cook, but that would defeat the purpose of establishing a new county.
Does Cook County really do any of those things you mention well? The jails are overcrowded; the health system is a patronage haven that has shown consistent billing problems; and the property tax collection/assessment/review systems are rife with do-nothing patronage workers. Further, the property assessment system in Cook drives businesses over the border to other counties/states.
Just because the physical structures and employees aren’t there now, doesn’t mean they can’t be built/procured.
Establishing a new county would be a tough job, but Cook County is larger than 16 states, and has not provided the local govt service that citizens of the northwest suburbs deserve, particularly given their tax contributions.
Honestly, who do you think would be worse off, Cook County without the northwest suburbs kicking in all the tax bucks or Lincoln County without the buildings, departments, and employees of the grossly mismanaged County of Cook?
Comment by Gene Parmesan Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 2:56 pm
Lincoln County taxpayers would need to pay for the Cook County assets AND teh new LC jail, hospital, etc. Even Palatine taxpayers are not that dumb…..Jones figured that out.
Comment by Reddbyrd Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 3:28 pm
Well I do know how the Collar Counties provide health care to their poor…they send them to Stroger Hospital.
Comment by 2for2 Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 3:39 pm
It would have been better had there been clinics at strategeic locations, instead of shutting them down. Instead we have Stalag Stroger
Comment by Truthful James Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 4:03 pm
Here is the statutory language on how to form a new county. In a nutshell, you need to get a petition of at least half of the registered voters in the areas to be included in the new county in order to get the question on the ballot (county-wide).
The signature requirement is steep, because you obviously don’t want this happening every day.
(55 ILCS 5/1‑3001) (from Ch. 34, par. 1‑3001)
Sec. 1‑3001. Petition to form new county. Whenever it is desired to form a new county out of one or more of the then existing counties, and a petition praying for the erection of such new county, stating and describing the territory proposed to be taken for such new county, together with the name of such proposed new county, signed by a majority of the legal voters residing in the territory to be stricken from such county or counties, shall be presented to the county board of each county to be affected by such division, and it appearing that such new county can be constitutionally formed, it shall be the duty of such county board or county boards to make an order providing for the submission of the question of the erection of such new county to a vote of the people of the counties to be affected. The County Board or boards shall certify the question to the proper election officials, who shall submit the question to the voters at a general election, in accordance with the general election law. The form of the proposition shall be as follows: “For new county,” and “Against new county.”
(55 ILCS 5/1‑3002) (from Ch. 34, par. 1‑3002)
Sec. 1‑3002. Election; effect. If it shall appear that a majority of all the votes cast at such election, in each of the counties interested, is in favor of the erection of such new county, the county clerk of each of said counties shall certify the same to the Secretary of State, stating in such certificate the name, territorial contents and boundaries of such new county; whereupon the Secretary of State shall notify the Governor of the result of such election, whose duty it shall be to order an election of county officers for such new county in accordance with the general election law for the election of county officers. Etc. etc
Comment by Guy Fawkes Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 6:06 pm
Just another example of rampant corruption, tax revenue mismanagement and patronage in Chicago. The cook county govt is as bloated and about as useful as a beached whale. Don’t buy the bull about these ridiculous fees and tax hikes necessary to keep government running, they could probably do it with half the money if only they could trim the fat and wasteful spending, year after year they refuse to do it, keeping themselves comfortable off the sweat of everyone else working for a living. When will people get sick of it and kick the crooks out of office? Screw John Stroger and Cook county government waste.
Comment by NW BuRBs Wednesday, Mar 5, 08 @ 7:07 pm
Lets all work to get Stroger and his cronies out. Someone ought to start a website that collects money to buy advertising time before elections to oust these fools. Think about a separate fund that gives cash awards to whistle blowers that expose County corruption. Perhaps big awards could be offered for any information that results in the criminal conviction of high level County officials. There are millions of us and hundreds of them.
Just an idea….
Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 25, 08 @ 8:17 pm