On July 1st, 2008 - exactly 7 days from today - Chicago will have the distinction of being the city with the highest sales tax in the nation!
On April 1st, 2008 (yes on April fools), the RTA sales tax hike went into effect. This was the hike presented to the citizens of Illinois by our Governor. In Cook County, the RTA sales tax rate on general merchandise increased from 0.75 percent to 1 percent. In neighboring DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties, the RTA sales tax rate has tripled from 0.25 percent to 0.75 percent.
Officials estimate the RTA sales tax increase, to fund the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra commuter rail system, and Pace suburban bus service, will cost consumers $530 million a year.
On July 1 the Cook County sales tax jumps from 0.75 percent to 1.75 percent. County officials estimate the tax increase will cost consumers another $426 million a year.
Combining all the sales taxes (RTA, Cook County, state, and city) will give Chicago a general sales tax rate of 10.25 percent on July 1, highest in the nation. For downtown Chicago restaurants subject to the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority sales tax, the total sales tax effective on July 1 will be 11.50 percent.
Come July 1, be prepared to fork over to our elected leaders, $10.25 of every $100 you spend in the City of Chicago. If you decide to frequent a dining establishment, make that $11.50 of every $100.
Source: The Heartland Institute.
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3 comments:
At least Chicago is #1 in something. Also probably #1 for the longest serving mayor.
I just ordered a bunch of new kitchen appliances from ABT, having them delivered today to beat the sales tax increase (even though the kitchen construction won't start for another month). Everyone else I know doing home improvements are renting trucks and driving to Wisconsin or Indiana to buy their goods. The idiots making these tax calls for Cook County are really shooting themselves in the foot. Can't wait to vote these clowns out of office and fire all the paper pusher friends & family that Stroger hired.
Robert is right - i know many others who are doing the same thing. curious to see how much crook county will collect from those of us who have cars.
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