ARLINGTON HEIGHTS – State Representative Sidney Mathias (R-Buffalo Grove) responded to the Cook County Board of Commissioners vote today by a veto-proof 12-5 margin to reduce Todd Stroger’s sales tax hike in half:
“Today’s vote by the County Board is a step in the right direction for struggling families and cash-strapped small businesses – but it is far from enough,” Rep. Mathias said. “The pressure of higher taxes, increased cost of consumer goods, and declining value of the dollar is being felt by families and employers everywhere. Reducing the rate increase by only half is a pittance. I will continue to pursue legislation for a full repeal of the Stroger sales tax increase and call upon the Cook County Board to do likewise.”
In response to Todd Stroger’s vetoes of the County Board’s earlier attempts to cut or repeal the sales tax increase, Rep. Mathias was a co-sponsor of House Bill 4625 during the recent October veto session of the General Assembly, legislation which reduced the threshold needed for Cook County Commissioners to override the Board President’s veto from four-fifths down to the more commonly accepted three-fifths standard used by most other legislative bodies.
Mathias is also Chief Sponsor of House Bill 715, a bipartisan measure in the Illinois House to roll back Cook County’s sales tax rate by a full one percent back to what it was prior to July 1, 2008 when the Stroger increase took effect. The bill would also require the County Board to put any future tax increase proposals before the voters for approval in the form of a ballot referendum.
“Todd Stroger and the Cook County Board should be forced to make their case to the voters in order to approve any new tax increases,” Mathias added. “The referendum provision in my legislation would ensure that the voice of Cook County taxpayers is heard before any future tax hikes are passed.”
Rep. Mathias serves the 53rd District which includes portions of Buffalo Grove, Arlington Heights, Wheeling, Prospect Heights, and Mount Prospect.
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