Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said he is willing to entertain proposals that would address the shortfall the county would face if the sales tax increase is repealed. At the same time, he is still considering vetoing the county commissioners 12-
Cook County Board President Todd Stroger said he is willing to entertain proposals that would address the shortfall the county would face if the sales tax increase is repealed. At the same time, he is still considering vetoing the county commissioners 12-3 vote Tuesday to roll back last year’s sales tax increase. Stroger told the Defender Tuesday that he would veto the vote the next day. That didn’t happen. Instead, Stroger is weighing some options. “His intent is to veto any measure that would cause hardship to the county health system, and repealing the penny sales tax increase would do just that,” said Sean Howard, a spokesman for Stroger. “But if the commissioners can see fit to come up with a proposal to address the $300 million shortfall, the president is willing to consider it. Nothing is off the table at this point.” At Tuesday’s county board meeting, commissioners voted to roll back the county sales tax to 0.75 percent from 1.75 percent. By doing so, some commissioners said it would give Cook County residents and businesses a financial break during these tough economic times. But Stroger disagrees. “This is a quarter of a billion dollar disaster,” he said in a written statement. “Their (commissioners) dangerously irresponsible position threatens health care for hundreds of thousands of our patients, and will force the layoff of thousands of union workers at a time when the economy is facing its deepest crisis in 60 years.” Should the sales tax be rolled back, Howard said that would leave Stroger with very little choice but to close Provident Hospital on the South Side, south suburban Oak Forest Hospital and all 16 county health clinics, which includes 12 stand alone sites, three specialty clinics and one school clinic at Morton East High School. “It’s almost impossible to close a $300 million hole without having to close something down,” Howard explained. Several commissioners originally voted for the sales tax increase but are now trying to repeal it. Howard said that the commissioners’ about face Tuesday surprised Stroger. “It is mind boggling that some commissioners voted for the sales tax increase but now say it was a bad idea,” Howard said. Just last month, Stroger proposed lowering a portion of the county sales tax to 1.50 percent as a result of federal stimulus money the county would be receiving. “Cook County now anticipates additional revenue as a result of President Obama’s federal economic stimulus plan and negotiations with the state of Illinois regarding the public health portion of the county’s budget,” Stroger told the Defender. “This has opened the door to a reduction in the sales tax increase.” Stroger is expected to make a decision by the board’s May 13 meeting as to whether or not he will veto the repeal. County commissioners could override a veto but would need 14 votes to do so. ______ Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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