Should Cook County Voters Decide Fate Of Taxes?

Should Cook County Voters Decide Fate Of Taxes?

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Earlier this year, the Cook County Board voted to increase sales taxes. Politically, that’s ancient history, but one commissioner never got over it. Today, he’s proposing a measure to keep it from happening again.

Last month, Commissioner Tony Peraica put forward a plan that would have let Cook County voters decide whether to rescind the board’s ability to approve or raise taxes without voter approval. He lost, but today he’s putting forward a lighter version that would still require most new taxes and increases go through referenda.

PERAICA: Clearly we have taxation on steroids here in Cook County, at every level - city, county, state that is driving business out of Cook County, that is driving individuals to move out of Cook County, and we need to put a stop to that.

Cook County Board President Todd Stroger’s office did not return calls for comment, but fellow Republican Commissioner Greg Goslin says Peraica’s plan is off-base. Goslin says if Cook County residents want lower taxes, they can always vote anti-tax commissioners into office.