Cook County Sales Tax thread (Chicago: 2009, live, move)

[FormerStocktonian]

This whole tax increase in Chicago just sickens me. Yeah, maybe I don't live in Chicago, THANK GOD! I was considering moving into the city from Rockford, and this new tax increase has changed my mind. I will not move into the city of Chicago or Cook County. People in the City of Chicago and in Cook County need to let their voices be heard. I have family that live in the city and in the suburbs of cook county and I refuse to make any purchases in the county while visiting. I think that all residents should do the same. Boycott any purchases in cook county. I deeply feel sorry for the mom and pop business struggling in this county, but how else are the people going to let their voices be heard. Obviously, the board members aren't listening now. There is so much corruption and it needs to be stopped! Doesn't this Crook Stroger guy know how much people are hurting already by gas prices?? And now they want to increase sales taxes? People, Chicago is going to end up like Detroit if these people aren't taken out of office imediatley. Wake up and smell the coffee!!! Well, whatever, thank God I don't live in Chicago or Cook County and have to suffer your tax hikes. I now realize that I am doing just fine living here in Rockford paying way more less in gas. And, I have the fortunate opportunity of working from home. It's just too bad that some people don't have that option and have to pay higher gas prices as well as higher taxes.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

i'm continually amazed by the stupidity of the people elected here.

so this new, higher sales tax only goes for stuff that isn't groceries, yes? 10.25 is bad, but it's still only 1% higher than what i was paying in Tennessee on everything i touched.

Do you drink pop or any other beverages that are not Milk or Juice? If you do you are now paying 12.5% tax on those. If you are in the special high taxed district in Chicago when you buy those you are paying 13.5% tax now.

The combined Beer,Wine,and Liquor taxes are outrageous also. Take a look at your receipt sometime.

Here is an example:

30 pack case of Old Style- 11.99
Cook County Liquor tax- .99
Combined State,County, and City Sales Tax- 1.23
Total tax- 2.22
Total- 14.21
Percent Tax- About 18.5 %

[j33]

Oh believe, while I'll most likely vote for Obama in the GE, his endorsement of Stroger is a bit of a sore spot with me. If I ever meet the guy and get to ask him questions, one of them will be "what the heck were you thinking there'.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

Just as bad if not worse is jesse white and his clan. He has several dozen family members on the payroll, some making six figs. Other than the tumblers, what good has he done for the state? I have seen them several times, truly a good program but extremely racially motivated as all 4 shows I saw was not mixed at all with no caucasian, asians, hispanics, or middle eastern kids. Perhaps there are other shows that are more mixed...

Darn this man is going to run again. Notice how he is talking about how he should replace Obama in the U.S. Senate if Obama is elected president. From Illinois Secretary of State to U.S. Senator? How in the world would that make sense? What a stretch, but in Cook County and Chicago this crap happens all the time.


"I think I would be in good shape," he said of his chances of being tapped for the Senate by fellow Chicago Democrat Blagojevich, if he indeed wanted the job.
"I think my name would be at the top of the heap, but I don't have an interest," he said.

Yeah right.


abc7chicago.com: White plans to be secretary of state at 80 7/03/08 (broken link)

[Nysee53]

I actually like Larry Suffredin. He is a Claypool supporter, so don't vote against him if you live on the North Shore. It is an all black tumbling group so don't look too hard.

[Avengerfire]

Larry Suffredin voted for the tax increase. He is a lying *****.


"SUFFREDIN: We have more than enough money to operate through 2010 and anybody who would think we need more taxes would be just trying to milk the taxpayers.

Suffredin says he needed to vote for this year's sales tax increase to get the troubled health bureau under independent management. Board President Todd Stroger, who pushed the increase, would not answer questions about the sales tax."

News - 13th Cook County Board District Commissioner Larry Suffredin

Sounds like a lying ***** to me.

[prairiestate]

I am now done shopping in Cook County, except for groceries, due to convenience issues, and there is no county sales tax on groceries. If at all possible, I will not be shopping in Cook County. It helps that there is a Target a block from my office in DuPage County. One thought I had, if you have to buy in Cook County, speak to the manager and demand to know why they are collecting this tax increase. They could refuse to collect the increase to send a message to the county. Our vote in Cook County clearly doesn't count, so we don't have the same option the rest of the country does when unhappy with our "leaders".

[FormerStocktonian]

[quote=prairiestate;4339858]I am now done shopping in Cook County, except for groceries, due to convenience issues, and there is no county sales tax on groceries. If at all possible, I will not be shopping in Cook County. It helps that there is a Target a block from my office in DuPage County. quote]

Good for you! Like I said, my hear goes out to all these mom and pop stores trying to make a living. But then these owners should let their voices be heard!! I just don't understand. If I lived in Cook County, I would totally be picketing the county. This is way too much for the average citizen. I really hope that Palatine follows through with suceeding cook county and that other suburbs would follow, just to prove a point! This wouldn't make me as upset, but look at all the corruption going on with Stroger. And yeah, it's only going to get worse when Obama gets into office.

[Avengerfire]

This is an example of what the increase tax dollars are going to:

Cook County Hospital System interim CEO gets huge salary - Neighborhoods

[FormerStocktonian]

That is insane! I can't believe that such a salary would be acceptable by cook county after increasing sales tax due to a budget crises. Does anyone not see what's wrong with this picture?