Board President Toni Preckwinkle is considering a one percent increase to the Cook County sales tax.
Preckwinkle said in a 2010 campaign ad that she would repeal the whole “Stroger” sales tax. Now, Commissioner Larry Suffredin says she’s asking the board about boosting the county-wide sales tax to help pay down pensions.
Suffredin says that would bump the current rate past 10 percent in the majority of the county. He's concerned it would hurt local retail.
“To places like furniture stores, shoe stores, jewelry stores...this puts them at a tremendous disadvantage,” Suffredin said.
Preckwinkle’s staff wouldn’t confirm the proposal, saying only that 2016 will be a quote particularly challenging budget year.