THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
Will Palatine Break Off?
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
The Cook County board could face a sales tax revolt.
Palatine, along with other nearby communities in Cook County, are fearing they will lose business to other counties that have a lower sales tax.
Some Palatine officials have talked about possibly breaking away from Cook County and forming a new county.
Beginning July 1, Palatine residents will have to swallow another tax increase, a 1% jump from Cook County, or $4.5 million.
"The issue is if Palatine pays the $4.5 million, what will we get for that money?" asked Mayor Rita Mullins.
Currently, shoppers in Palatine pay an 8.75% sales tax. In addition to the 1% increase from the county, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) will tack on an additional .25%, totaling an even 10%.
By the end of this year, stores along the county line will charge as much as ten cents on the dollar. They will be competing with their neighbors to the north in Lake County, who will be charging seven cents on the dollar.
Last week, the Cook County board increased its portion from three-quarters of a cent to one-and-three quarters of a cent. According to President Todd Stroger, the increase is necessary to maintain services to 5.5 million people.
According to Village Councilman Jack Wagner, there are over 100 communities in Cook County outside Chicago city limits. He said the majority of them may possibly be interested in splitting from Cook County.
If Palatine was to form a new county, one name that has been talked about is Lincoln County.
"Numerous mayors from different decades have tired to secede from Cook County, for a variety of reasons, but it never happened," said Wagner. "I just think it's time to separate from Cook County, and it might even be good for the county."
Mullins said for Palatine to split off from Cook County, there would be numerous legal ramifications, many contracts to be signed, and many other aspects that would need to be implemented prior to disbanding.
According to Stroger, a new county would need a government, a building and workers.
Mullins and Wagner both said the village has invited Stroger to sit down with the Council and discuss this issue further, but a date has not been set of as yet.
Legal experts are saying a secession movement would take numerous years and cost millions of dollars in attorney fees without any guarantees it would work. In the meantime, residents would still have to pay the increase.