It is not without some irony that I read this AM the following in the Naperville Sun as the first, “crucial” issue listed that Robert Schroeder, my former opponent for a DuPage County Board District 5 seat, will work on:
“In an interview last month, Schroeder said finances is one of the most crucial issues facing the county. He said he favors a quarter-of-a-penny increase in the county sales tax rate.
‘I contend it would not be a detriment to the businesses of this county,’ he said.
He estimates that such a sales tax hike would generate an additional $35 million in tax revenues for the county.”
I do, however, give Schroeder credit for not trying to duck the issue. At least he is clear (and it is reported prominently now) that he is for tax increases.
A week ago there was this from the Daily Herald (October 24, 2004):
“[County Board Member Pam] Rion said the biggest challenge for the board will be finding ways to pay for existing and new programs when the county stops receiving an annual payment from the DuPage Water Commission. The final $15 million check from the water group will arrive in 2007.
‘This budget cycle is not the issue,’ Rion said. ‘It’s 2007 that will be problematic. My goal is to get serious discussions started. We’ve got to find ways to get additional funding.’”
So the next time you hear about DuPage property taxes going down for yet another year by a total of $100,000 or so (pennies per person) - realize that this is all part of a shell game. The money taken from the Water Commission was originally supposed to be for “Homeland Security,” but as John Zimmerman of the Daily Herald pointed out, it is being used as general revenue, with almost no money going to Homeland Security. I would point out that it is really taking the place of property taxes, which is where most of the County’s budget comes from. Of course it might be useful to consider that the Water Commission no longer has this $75 million for the drinking water system - so if we ever need it for capital improvements, or to maintain our discounted water rates, DuPage residents and businesses will pay even more.
One other thing about the Water Commission money, it comes from a 0.25% sales tax in DuPage. That means that it is a regressive tax, costing proportionately more for people of low and modest income who are paying for the necessities of life. This is the local version of a national shift towards regressive taxation. It is a shift that Robert Schroeder, in his proposal above, seems to support. It is also something that often hits hardest many people in need of Human Services, services that Robert Schroeder has always, and continues to advocate for on the Board (an admirable advocacy).
Perhaps it is time to look harder at the county budget. Perhaps it is time to get rid of unnecessary taxation, as I pointed out during the County Board campaign. That is why DuPage citizens can look forward to my petition to end the DuPage Airport line item on our property taxes. It’s time to spend smarter and reduce taxes where we can do it. The Republicans on the County Board seem to believe their job is taxing, but DuPage residents need tax relief! We need real independent voices to rein in costs, spend smarter and make living in DuPage easier and better for us all. I look forward to being one of those voices.
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