Chicago Mayor Proposes Boosting Sales Tax

[Khephra]

CHICAGO -- Mayor Richard Daley on Tuesday proposed eliminating hundreds of jobs and boosting the sales tax as he tries to close a $220 million deficit in the nation's third largest city.

The mayor's 2005 budget would leave few Chicago residents or visitors untouched.

The proposed budget contains $50 million in spending cuts, the elimination of 320 jobs, and tens of millions of dollars in sales tax and fee increases.

If the City Council goes along with Daley budget, as it typically does, the sales tax in Chicago would increase from 8.75 percent to 9 percent on just about everything but groceries and medicine. Other tax increases would hit sales of alcohol and cigarettes, car and hotel rentals, and concert tickets.

Chicago's sales tax is already higher than both New York's 8.6 percent and Los Angeles's 8.25 percent. The sales tax in New Orleans tops all three at 9 percent.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-chicago-budget,0,2486285.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[Anakin Skywalker]

1. The Economy is Strong!

All right! "The economy is strong", president Shrub wants you to know.

[Indiana_Dem]

3. He didn't tell everybody how the federal cuts would affect the states. nt

[Indiana_Dem]

2. Dang! I thought 6% was bad.

Indiana just raised their state sales tax last year to 6% from 5% which was at that rate for years.

[AlCzervik]

6. It's 7.75% here in northern California

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. Ooh goodie, let's tax the poor some more!

What, they can't afford food anymore? Let them eat cake!

[Placebo]

5. Nooooooo!

I am a poor college student as is, this increase could kill me.

Maaaaaaaaaaybe, he should have built fewer FLOWERPOTS. (anyone from Chicago will know what I mean about the flowerpots) They only cost us $250 million. :eyes:

[kysrsoze]

8. They're expensive and friggin' dangerous to drive around

You're right. That was absolutely stupid.

[kysrsoze]

7. Thanks again, Dick! How about actually doing some cost cutting?

I'm amazed at how much waste is going on. Our city looks beautiful these days, but we're absolutely paying through the nose. Our property taxes are sky-high, with no drop-off in sight. There's too much waste and corruption. Millenium Park cost us a half-billion dollars - three times what was anticipated.

Enough is enough. I want Daley out of office. Of course I hope a good Dem challenger comes up.