* 3:24 pm - If you want to know if Cook County Board President Todd Stroger will veto the sales tax rollback or allow it to take effect, tune into WVON today at 4 o’clock…
Stroger will disclose his decision at 4 p.m. in an interview on WVON-AM 1690, according to a new release from his office. WVON host Cliff Kelley will interview Stroger for about 30 minutes, the release said. Stroger will also release a statement on his decision at the time of the interview, his office said.
Click here to listen live.
Some perspective…
Retail sales declined much faster last year in Cook County communities near the county line than they did for the entire county, according to a study that seeks to measure the impact of last July’s politically charged increase in the county sales tax.
Preliminary findings were released Monday, ahead of word on whether Cook County Board President Todd Stroger will veto a measure to eliminate the one percentage point boost in January.
The survey by DePaul University’s Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development and Economic Research Associates Inc. found that Cook County communities near the county line last year experienced a 5.7% drop in retail sales, compared with a 4.1% drop for the county as whole.
Meanwhile, the decline was just 1.7% for communities outside of Cook County whose geographic center is within five miles of the county line.
*** 3:58 pm *** From NBC5’s Twitter page…
Stroger says he’s going to veto to tax repeal, and instead call for a graduated roll-back. Must think he has enough votes
*** 4:17 pm *** Stroger just said on WVON that he has already transmitted his vetoes to the clerk’s office.
Stroger said the proposal to immediately roll back the tax hike was “not fiscally responsible,” and “not thought out at all,” and a “political effort” meant to “embarrass” him.
Stroger: “I don’t think the votes are there to override a veto.” He also said that Senate President Cullerton wants to roll back the Cook County sales tax hike from Springfield as well as increase the state income tax, which Stroger more than implied was hypocritical.
* 4:47 pm - Stroger’s press release is now online.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 3:32 pm:
That ends the suspense.
“VETO”
If Stroger were planning on repealing the sales tax increase, he’d be having a press conference with everyone under the sun, with the message that he never wanted to raise the sales tax in the first place, and always intended it to be temporary.
Instead, he’s playing defense: Giving an exclusive to a friendly reporter and taking his case to his base.
- Gene Parmesan - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 3:40 pm:
Agreed YDD. Also, I expect to hear a lot of his ’south side vs. north side’ schtick.
- Wumpus - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 3:46 pm:
Gene, why do we need to bring Baseball into this?
- ILPundit - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:02 pm:
This ought to really help Democratic performance in the 2010 election…(/snark)
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:03 pm:
Yeah. The bad news never stops for them.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:09 pm:
What a shock. (snark)
Truthfully, I think this is genious for the GOP because it really will help Stroger cement his base which will make him a viable candidate in the primary.
If Stroger wins someone like Vallas gets a weak opponent and if Claypool wins Vallas might get a large disaffected vote from African Americans and also from a huge pool of regular dems who despise the him from his Park District daze. (as in confused)
Which of course means the GOP will go with Peraica. (more snark)
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:10 pm:
There is a Silver lining in Stroger’s veto
This is GREAT NEWS for Democratic political consultants throughout Chicago.
It used to be SO HARD to find work during the primary season, but if, in fact, enough Commissioners vote with stroger to uphold the veto, consultants will have a surfeit of work…on both sides of the debate.
- siriusly - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:10 pm:
WVON - the radio outlet choice for officials with ZERO political future (Blago, Burris, Stroger)
What’s next? A morning stint on WLS?
- ILPundit - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:11 pm:
Rich, surely you aren’t suggesting that 2009 has been packed with good news for Illinois Democrats? Blago impeached, indicted, Burris etc, inevitable tax hikes and the ongoing Stroger drama…
I may be in the minority, but I find it hard to see how this much bad news amounts to nothing in 2010. Incompetence, nepotism, and corruption is hardly the message you want to drive for months on end.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:12 pm:
=== if Claypool wins Vallas might get a large disaffected vote from African Americans and also from a huge pool of regular dems who despise the him from his Park District daze. ===
Dream on.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:12 pm:
If I’m snarky, you’ll know it. Unless, you read too much into what I write.
- Rich Miller - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:16 pm:
…and u are a hopeless partisan with an itchy trigger finger. lol
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:18 pm:
YDD,
a dream to some-a nightmare to others.
I finally get to quote Excalibur.
- 2010 - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:26 pm:
Election Day is too far away.
- Joe in the Know - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:35 pm:
Is it me, or does Todd Stroger come across — through his actions — as a man who really doesn’t want the job he has?
- Quinley - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:39 pm:
Certainly those who are giving the Ds a 10 count for 2010 forget that the Circular Firing Squad is working their magic. Hard to believe TugBoat Andy McKenna could get a win even with all the help he is getting.
- Chicago Cynic - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:50 pm:
Na na na na…na na na na…hey hey…goodbye
- Boscobud - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:53 pm:
Can’t wait till 2010.
- siriusly - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 4:56 pm:
Joe in the Know - I think you’re half right. Todd is probably smart enough to realize that he’s toast anyway at this point. He’s more George Ryan than he is Blago.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:05 pm:
There’s enough hypocrisy to go around on the Cook County Board. It’s not exactly the Roman Senate or the Algonquian Round Table over there.
- Petey - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:10 pm:
Why is it OK for the state to raise taxes, but not Cook County? Is there some kind of double standard going on?
Won’t cutting taxes in Cook County result in hurting the most needy amongst us?
- Plutocrat03 - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:17 pm:
All together now…..
It is more important for the government to have money than the taxpayer……
Repeat fifty times and pull the lever to vote the Democratic ticket.
- Steve - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:31 pm:
Anyone who thinks the Democrats are in serious trouble over this is getting ahead of the situation.How many times,in Cook County,has a Democrat lost a race for raising taxes? Please feel free to give some examples.
- Bill - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:44 pm:
I’m glad he vetoed it. The County needs the money to continue to provide the citizens with vital services. I think that when Todd conferred with the elected officials they made it clear what devastating cuts would mean to residents in their respective areas of law enforcement, the courts, jails, health care, etc. Kudos to Stroger for having the courage to fight for all of us. I wish someone in Springfield had Todd’s courage and leadership.
- fedup dem - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 5:54 pm:
Toddler is toast. Slatmaking will be held in less than four months (most likely right after Labor Day, as was the case for the 2008 Primary). Mayor Daley and his brother John are now forced to make an example of Stroger, and will dump him from the ticket (just like their dad did to Seymour Simon in the 1966 campaign).
The Daleys can dump Toddler, knowing full well that Republican strength is less than half of what it was in 1966. There is no Richard Oglivie for voters to turn to on the Republican side. A Vallas-Claypool matchup would to most voters be whether to support the former Daley aide who remined in the Democratic Party or to support the one who switched parties. If that becomes the argument, which is likely, then Vallas will be spending the next 18 months running for exercise.
- Oakparker - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 6:33 pm:
A good number of Democratic committeemen are on the county (and forest preserve) payroll. Other committeemen, such as John Daley, have a good number of patronage jobs for their captains with the county. I think it is going to be very hard for the central committee not to endorse Todd Stroger for re-election. The best opponents can hope for is no endorsement, but still with a lot of regular organizations working for Stroger.
- Concerned Observer - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 6:45 pm:
Bill, not that I completely disagree, but…couldn’t your rationale ALSO be used if next week, the Cook Gov’t decided to raise taxes to 20%…
…then six months later, Todd went to the ‘elected officials’ (elected? not all, but that’s neither here nor there) and asked them “what would happen if you didn’t have this cash?”
Government does tend to fill whatever-size hole it’s presented.
—-
Now, I think you’re right in that this was partly (mostly) a political ploy, and Todd MIGHT be right that they need the money. More than likely they need *some* of the money and I do think Todd did the right thing by vetoing it and trying to work his way down.
Then again, I don’t think he should have asked for *all* of it to begin with when he knew they didn’t need *all* of it. And if he didn’t know, he should have.
- Anonymous - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 7:17 pm:
I think we’re stuck with Todd.
And does anybody believe that there will really be a rollback.
Daley is mad because how much can you hit up Chicago residents for. They are passive, but even passive folks can reach the end of their rope. So if Todd keeps his massive (and basically unnecessary) sales increase, is that going to crimp Daley’s efforts to raise city taxes and Quinn’s effort to raise state taxes. Voters are sheep but there is an end to all good things.
- southside - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 8:33 pm:
President Stroger showed great leadership and courage with this veto. I and thousands of others will work our tails off to get him re-elected and ensure he wins the south suburbs and city by (70% to 30%, 80% to 20% respectively)over Claypool and Vallas. Just like we did for John in primary and Todd in general in ‘06.
- Unlikley Scenario - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 8:33 pm:
Vallas could rack up lots of the black vote if he was running against someone like Claypool. He is respected for how he ran the schools and would campaign in their community-unlike Claypool.
30% wouldn’t be out of line if he played his cards right.
- wordslinger - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 9:07 pm:
I wouldn’t count Stroger out yet. He’s been a goof, but it’s a pretty strong brand name for those who have an interest in Cook County services and employment. And they’ll vote.
I’d bet dollars to donuts Burris will get bumped in the primary. That’s one black incumbent down. I don’t think Todd would automatically lose to the names out there now.
Still, Mr. Cole while’s away at 26th and Cal, Donna Dunnings is out of a job, and the voters don’t know what in the world is behind all that…yet….
- Wumpus - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 10:44 pm:
Perhaps Todd can win if he is the only AA, no hispanics and 2-3 caucasians.
Stroger should press the fact that he is for a tax cut, albeit a graduated one. he should call on Mayor Daley and Gov Quinn to fight for the same!
- Judgment Day Is On The Way - Monday, May 11, 09 @ 11:52 pm:
Good reason (at least from his viewpoint) for Todd Stronger to veto the sales tax rollback…
Next year’s real estate taxes for tax cap jurisdictions will be 1.0010 (this year is 1.0410), or 1/10th of 1 percent increase in the cap. Now, if you have loads and loads of new construction (first time assessed), you can make it. But new construction is in kind of short supply these days, so you are looking a stagnant revenue source if you are relying on property taxes.
And that’s assuming that real estate market levels stay constant. Remember, for 2008 taxes payable 2009 tax bills, the countywide equalizer uses sales comparison studies (usually referred to as “sales ratio studies”) over a 3 prior year average, which in this case are sales occurring in 2005-2006-2007.
For next year (2009 taxes payable 2010 tax bills), the countywide equalizer uses sales comparison studies which will be sales occurring in 2006-2007-2008. Real estate sales prices trended downward for almost all of 2008, so the end result probably won’t be less money for tax district like Cook County or the City of Chicago (unless they really reduce their actual tax levies), but their tax rates could substantially increase.
If the goal is to keep the property tax rate for Cook County steady in the future, he’s flat out got to have all of that sales tax increase.
Otherwise he’s got to make extraordinarily serious budget cuts starting for next year’s budget (no .05 or .10 cent stuff). And remember, we don’t yet know what the impact is going to be from IMRF (IL Municipal Retirement Fund). Increases in pension costs can blow out a budget really quick.
But I can understand how Todd feels - probably along the lines of all these commissioners are grandstanding while he’s trying to hold things together. Tough road ahead these next few years.
- BigDog - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 8:20 am:
After listening to the Toddler on WGN this morning, I now understand that he’s doing nothing wrong - it’s just the newspapers making it look like he is. This point was reiterated by him about ten times, so I really do believe it because of how he kept saying it over and over and over.
- westsider - Tuesday, May 12, 09 @ 8:30 am:
Good job President Stroger, its easy to run around and say cut cut cut, when you dont know where to cut. To keep things real the Commissioners on this vote thought it was going to be 7-7, but somewhere the vote went wrong. What the board should have done was to ask for this item to go to committee to look to see how this proposal would impact county services. I say that if all you negative Stroger folks on here think they dont need county services. I say to President Stroger, give the jails back to the municipalities, make it where u can only go to traffic court on Wednesdays, you can only file for divorce on Mondays, other court cases the other days in the week. He should order the county medical examiner no longer a 24hr operation and then close on weekends. Cut the Veterans Commission, Child support services, close the most underused courthouse, and then see how quick people will demand these services back to normal. Most people dont miss things till they are gone. Then to people to say Stroger is a goof or Toddler, look in the mirror first. Every elected official has done silly or dumb stuff the point is they dont have reporters following you on everything you do like Stroger has.
Last thing as those to talk so bad about Stroger, he is the only elected offical to run a large government in the State of Illinois to maintain a good bond rating (AA), hasnt have to close any facilities (after year one he closed clinics), the lines at hospitals have gone down, new pharmacies have opened, Forest Preserve has run without a deficit each year, so please dont get me started on cuts at the city, cuts on the state level.
This guy has done both, cuts and raised ONE tax! They say this tax hurts poor people the most, well it doesnt apply to groceries, it doesnt apply to meds, and if it hurts the poor so much, why dont the city of chicago and the state also cut its share of the sales tax? Why dont they bring theirs down to 1.75% each! The county can still function, lets see if the city and state can?