Cook County President Todd Stroger is vetoing a move by commissioners to repeal a 1 percentage point sales tax increase because he says it would create a $245 million budget deficit.
Cook County President Todd Stroger is vetoing a move by commissioners to repeal a 1 percentage point sales tax increase because he says it would create a $245 million budget deficit.
Stroger made the announcement Monday on WVON-AM radio. He called rolling back the tax increase fiscally irresponsible.
It will take 14 of the 17 county board members to override Stroger’s veto.
The board voted 12-3 last week to repeal the increase that went into effect last year. It drove the total sales tax in Chicago to 10.25 percent.
That sales tax makes Chicago’s rate the highest of any major city in the country.
Stroger says he won’t play politics with people’s lives by letting commissioners repeal the tax increase.
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