TELL COOK COUNTY BOARD TO ROLL BACK SALES TAX
On Tuesday morning (November 17) the Cook County Board will hold a special meeting to consider a roll back of the Cook County sales tax. The proposed amendment would reduce the County's sales tax rate from 1.75% to 1.25% and this change would take effect on July 1, 2010.
Governor Quinn recently signed a bill that reduces the number of votes needed to override a presidential veto from 14 to 11 of the 17-member Board. Last time the County Board voted to reduce the sales tax, President Stroger vetoed the measure. Proponents of the sales tax reduction fell just one vote short of the 14 then needed to override the veto. Commissioner Deborah Sims (5th District) switched her position and provided the one vote President Stroger needed to sustain his veto.
With the lower override threshold now in place, proponents of the sales tax reduction are hopeful that a Presidential veto can be overridden. But first they need to send a strong message by passing the roll back ordinance tomorrow with as many votes as possible.
The Chamber encourages members to contact all Cook County Commissioners, but it is especially important that the following Commissioners hear from you.
Commissioner Earlean Collins (1), (312) 603-4566
ecollins@cookcountygov.comr
Commissioner Robert Steele (2), (312) 603-3019
rsteele@cookcountygov.com
Commissioner Deborah Sims (5), (312) 603-6381
dsims@cookcountygov.com
Commissioner Joan Murphy (6), (312) 603-4216
jmurphy@cookcountygov.comr
CLICK HERE TO SEND AN EMAIL TO THE COMMISSIONERS
OR CALL OR EMAIL THEM DIRECTLY USING THE ROSTER ABOVE.
Please copy and paste or customize the sample message below and send it to your Cook County Board member today.
Dear Commissioner [name]:
I am writing to urge you to vote to roll back President Stroger's sales tax increase passed last year. Increasing the sales tax was a misguided policy that gave us the highest sales tax rate in the country, had a devastating impact on Cook County residents and businesses, and caused consumers to leave the county to make purchases.
A 10.25% sales tax rate in Chicago, and a rate 2 percentage points higher on average throughout Cook County compared to the collar counties, is unsustainable. We must roll back the tax increase to put us back on a competitive playing field with other counties in the region.
Please do the responsible thing and vote to roll back the tax increase.
Sincerely,
[signature]
