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No new or increased taxesChicago TribuneJanuary 16, 2008Letter to the EditorIn recent months, the Chicago region has been burdened with a flurry of higher taxes that total more than $750 million. The City of Chicago passed $280 million in new taxes and fees, and the State of Illinois passed nearly $500 million in sales and other taxes to fund the CTA and RTA. Cook County residents and businesses simply cannot afford to pay any more. We applaud the nine members of the County Board who have stood firm against higher taxes: Commissioners Forrest Claypool, Elizabeth Doody Gorman, Gregg Goslin, Roberto Maldonado, Tony Peraica, Mike Quigley, Timothy Schneider, Peter Silvestri, and Larry Suffredin. They clearly recognize that enough is enough. Chicago already has one of the highest sales taxes in the country, and if President Todd Stroger's proposed two percent sales tax is approved, Chicago and many suburban communities will have the unfortunate distinction of having the highest sales tax in the country. Other revenue proposals put forward also received little support and for good reason – they would stymie economic growth and job creation in the region at a time when our economy is teetering on the brink of a recession. Rather than continuing to promote higher taxes, President Stroger and all of the independently elected officials must operate more efficiently. It is not enough to decry changes to the status quo. Instead, each and every independently elected official must reduce costs by bringing greater efficiency to their offices and better service to the people of Cook County. Many studies have been issued through this past decade, each providing detailed recommendations to increase the efficiency of county government. As county leaders continue to evaluate ways to balance the budget, they should look to these reports and embrace fiscal responsibility contained within them. Last year, the County Board remained committed to no new or increased taxes and we ask that they take this responsible position again this year. Jerry Roper President and CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Lisa Zeigler President and CEO, Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce David Vite President and CEO, Illinois Retail Merchants Association Sheila O'Grady President, Illinois Restaurant Association John Maxson President and CEO, Greater North Michigan Avenue Association Michael Cornicelli, Executive Vice President, Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago Evan Williams Vice President of External Relations, Mechanical Contractors Association Theresa Kern Chairman, Women Construction Owners & Executives Ty Tabing Executive Director, Chicago Loop Alliance Judith Roettig Executive Vice President, Chicagoland Apartment Association William Bornhoff Managing Director, Chicago Real Estate Alliance Steve Boren, Chairman – Government Relations Association of Subcontractors & Affiliates
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