by Tony Peraica
First, he cut the jobs of more than a thousand frontline workers, nurses and prosecutors - and closed needed County health clinics.
Then he goes on a hiring spree of friends, family and political cronies.
Now...he's calling for a tax increase? The Sun-Times reports:
Breaking with his father's avoidance of property tax increases and his own campaign promise not to impose them, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger made it clear over the weekend that he thinks a property tax hike is one way to balance the 2008 county budget.
Stroger made the comment in an interview that aired on "Fox Chicago Sunday." In response to a question by hosts Dane Placko and Jack Conaty about how he planned to balance the budget, Stroger replied, "For years, we haven't taken any of the natural growth [in property values]. We should go to the next level that we can."
Why does Todd want to raise taxes? So he can have more taxpayer money with which to hire friends and family.
Stroger has shown that his only concern with the County budget is how to use it as a political tool to reward cronies and contributors. Cook County taxpayers don’t need a tax increase, they need competent leadership that Stroger simply refuses to provide.
At next weeks' County Board meeting, I will introduce a resolution of "No Confidence" in the Stroger administration. I ask that you contact your County Commissioner to urge him or her to support this resolution.
Please also vote in our latest online poll to voice your opinion of whether or not you support my resolution.
And, as always, please share your comments with us at the JoinPeraica Blog.
