Sorry, Chicago merchants
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jglackin
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Wikipedia:
The city of Chicago has the highest total sales tax of all major U.S. cities.[29] It is also one of the most complex. 10.25% is levied on all non-perishable goods purchased, while 2% is levied on grocery items, drugs, and medical appliances.[30] There is an additional 1% tax, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) "Food and Beverage Tax", on food and beverage purchases in the downtown area (roughly to North Avenue on the north, Halsted on the west, Roosevelt on the south, & Lake Michigan on the east). Car rentals in the city are taxed at 20%. Hotel rooms are taxed at 15.4%. Soft drinks (packs or cases) are taxed at 13.25%.
The city of Chicago has the highest total sales tax of all major U.S. cities.[29] It is also one of the most complex. 10.25% is levied on all non-perishable goods purchased, while 2% is levied on grocery items, drugs, and medical appliances.[30] There is an additional 1% tax, the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) "Food and Beverage Tax", on food and beverage purchases in the downtown area (roughly to North Avenue on the north, Halsted on the west, Roosevelt on the south, & Lake Michigan on the east). Car rentals in the city are taxed at 20%. Hotel rooms are taxed at 15.4%. Soft drinks (packs or cases) are taxed at 13.25%.
FiReBReTHa
Master Blaster!
BURBS FTW!
ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
Course, the state of Illinois has one of the lowest, and flat, state income taxes and massive deficits, and no corporate tax. State and city need revenues from somewhere, or everyone would be complaining about, oh I don' t know, unrepaired potholes destroying their gas-guzzling SUV's, trash not getting picked up, etc etc.
Sales tax is the most regressive. But if you want those taxes lower, the people of the great state of Illinois will have to reverse their idiotic decision of 1976 regarding income taxes, which are essentially set in the Constitution. Gargantuan mistake. Much stupider than California's infamous Prop. 13.
Sales tax is the most regressive. But if you want those taxes lower, the people of the great state of Illinois will have to reverse their idiotic decision of 1976 regarding income taxes, which are essentially set in the Constitution. Gargantuan mistake. Much stupider than California's infamous Prop. 13.
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12247929#post12247929 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kmiec123
It's all them Ex-smokers not paying city and county tax....Keep smoking.
I just don't understand how most of the suburbs get all these mice little league parks and library's, etc. and Chicago gets a million dollar plus bean in a park.
It's shiny....
jglackin
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Like the pot holes I drive over every day in my 4 cylinder Mercury Mariner SUV?
I guess somebody needs to pay to make up for the revenues lost from the Mayor shutting down Meigs Field in the middle of the night and eliminating all of the revenues generated through aircraft landing, storage and fuel fees. All of course so we can spend millions more converting it into a park that nobody visits.
One thing certain types of politicians can never come to grips with, you cannot tax your way into prosperity. Raising the city sales tax pushes sales and revenues away from the city. It hurts revenues, jobs, and growth. 10.25% sales tax on a lower volume of sales does not produce as much tax revenue as 8% on a much larger volume of sales.
ostrow
It's Dr. Goodluck Himself
I agree sales tax is regressive. You can take your SUV to the burbs. Most of the population can't do that and they get hurt most. It's why income and corporate taxes are preferable.
But, again, constitution is what it is.
Your potholes are being repaired now, by the way Jim. Or you aren't driving around much and seeing all the roadwork. Government also has to prioritize highest traffic roads first.
You do a lot of government bashing here, and Lord knows Illinois and Chicago politicians have earned the bashing. But still, you should try living somewhere where government doesn't work, and you'll appreciate the services we enjoy in this country, and in this state, and in this metro area. Nothing is free. We get a lot for our taxes, and as a society pay less taxes than any advanced industrialized country.
But, again, constitution is what it is.
Your potholes are being repaired now, by the way Jim. Or you aren't driving around much and seeing all the roadwork. Government also has to prioritize highest traffic roads first.
You do a lot of government bashing here, and Lord knows Illinois and Chicago politicians have earned the bashing. But still, you should try living somewhere where government doesn't work, and you'll appreciate the services we enjoy in this country, and in this state, and in this metro area. Nothing is free. We get a lot for our taxes, and as a society pay less taxes than any advanced industrialized country.
Right, it's regressive, driving sales out of the city (and county) all of that. But "we" keep electing idiots who hire their families and incompetent cronies who need more revenue to pay for the patronage. A progressive state income tax would help for sure not to mention progressive thinking politicians.
BreadmanMike
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How much money would we save if Premier Blagojevich lived in the Governor's mansion instead of flying from Chicago to Springfield all the time? Does he know this isn't socialist Yugoslavia?
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/22/politics/main2968669.shtml
How about all the signs on the toll roads to remind us who to vote for.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/11/1191.asp
Let's blame the people not the system.
I'd also like to know where the millions collected in tolls and lottery actually goes? The toll roads were supposed to be eliminated, not expanded and increased.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/22/politics/main2968669.shtml
How about all the signs on the toll roads to remind us who to vote for.
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/11/1191.asp
Let's blame the people not the system.
I'd also like to know where the millions collected in tolls and lottery actually goes? The toll roads were supposed to be eliminated, not expanded and increased.
BreadmanMike
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spit is free!<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12248226#post12248226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Kmiec123
That was an extra million to clean it and make it shiny again!
jglackin
New member
You make my point. We pay lower taxes than most industrialized countries, but yet we have better GDP and unemployment figures. Why? Because we do not tax ourselves into oblivion. You cannot tax your way into prosperity. While many of our politicians constantly try to drive us further and further towards the socialist ways of Europe, we need to stop and look at WHY we do so much better than our European friends. While many countries are trying to move away from these types of large government, high taxation policies, we seem to be moving towards it because "Well, the Europeans do it that way".
p.s. We don't need to go into how/why fixing a pothole in Chicago costs much more than it does to fix a pothole in just about any other city, do we?
BreadmanMike
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I don't even want to get started on the unions. I'm in the Teamsters and they make me want to puke. Instead of sending me election propaganda, lower my union dues...
jglackin
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True. That's the problem. They do nothing, but yet they want for nothing because they take from those of us that DO do something. We live in an ever increasing entitlement society. Our social programs do nothing to intill independence and self reliance. They create dependence and helplessness from one generation to the next in an ever increasing number and in an endless cycle. Throwing more money at it is not the answer.
We are now providing three meals a day in our schools because our kids are undernourished. How can mom get up to 400 pounds and maintain impeccable hair and nails and still have enough to feed the kids? We need to expand the programs to make sure that the kids get fed.
(I know I started this, but I am bowing out. This stuff really gets me fired up and this is not the board for it)
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