If Republican lawmakers are successful at getting House Bill 3948 passed, it would repeal the Cook County sales tax increase that took effect last year.
If Republican lawmakers are successful at getting House Bill 3948 passed, it would repeal the Cook County sales tax increase that took effect last year. The bill has already passed an executive committee and now awaits a vote by the Illinois House. County officials say the roll back would leave a $400 million hole in the county’s budget. Cook County Board President Todd Stroger told the Defender that with a hole that big he would have no choice but to take drastic measures such as closing Provident Hospital on the South Side, south suburban Oak Forest Hospital and all 12 county health clinics. In 2008, the county sales tax increased to 1.75 percent from 0.75 percent. The one-penny increase bumped Chicago’s sales tax to 10.25 percent, giving the city the highest sales tax in the nation. “Closing these hospitals and clinics would account for just $200 million. We would still need to make further cuts to absorb another $200 million,” said Eugene Mullins, spokesman for Stroger. “This could include turning John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital into an ambulatory care facility and asking all county departments to cut their budgets by 35 percent.” He added that the deep cuts would affect all county departments, from judges to the state’s attorney’s office. “There would be longer wait times in traffic, child support and criminal courts,” Mullins said. “We’re talking about a domino effect here because we would need to close the hospitals immediately. Then where would people with no health insurance go for medical treatment?” However, state Rep. Harry Ramey, R-55th, a co-sponsor of the bill, said he doubts if the county board would approve such drastic measures. “That may be what Stroger wants, but it is unlikely county commissioners would support such as move,” he said. Ramey, whose district includes portions of Cook and DuPage Counties, supports the bill because his constituents want the sales tax repealed. “Right now my constituents are going to DuPage County to shop because Cook County has the highest sales tax in the nation,” he said. “They want the sales tax rolled back so that is what I am going to give them.” Should the sales tax be rolled back, a voter referendum would be needed to reinstate the sales tax increase. The next county election is in 2010–when Stroger is up for re-election. State Rep. Sidney Mathias, R-53rd, whose district includes Arlington Heights, is the chief sponsor of the bill. He was unavailable for comment. ______ Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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