Wednesday, September 9, 2015

TAX, TAX, TAX: Is Rahmalnd About to Get the Largest Property Tax Hike in Modern Chicago History? (And that is just for starters)

Mayor Rahm Emanuel is set to call for the largest property tax increase in modern Chicago history to raise enough money to make a major pension payment for first takers responders, police and firefighters, next year, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Pension payments this year total about $478 million. Next year, payments to police and fire pension funds will increase by $538 million under current state law

The mayor also plans to push a new garbage collection tax, a new per-ride fee on taxis and ride-hailing services such as Uber and a new tax on electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products.

But  don't thing this is the first time Emanuel has raised taxes.
 The Tribune reports (with apparently a straight face):
During his first term, Emanuel avoided major tax hikes in favor of a series of smaller tax, fee and fine increases that together resulted in the equivalent of a 60 percent increase in city property taxes for the average homeowner.
And in case you don't think Emanuel is just another hypocritical politician, the Tribune reminds:
  During the campaign, Emanuel attacked his runoff challenger, Jesus "Chuy" Garcia, for voting for the Washington-era property tax hike. Now Emanuel is weighing a property tax hike that could triple the one his opponent backed.
Chicago taxpayers should do what Greek citizens failed to do, throw the crony leader out office, in this case Emanuel, and default on the government pensions.

      -RW

6 comments:

  1. I think the Greeks have a better chance than "they who live in Crook County".

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  2. If by throwing them out of office you mean opening their office window on the 5th floor or higher and throwing them out of it, then yes, this is exactly what they should do.

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  3. People of Chicago are just going to start voting with their feet if this goes through.

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    1. They already are. I'm in Texas, and it seems like every other person I meet "just moved" from Chicago. It's merely anecdotal, I know, but I would like to find out just how many people are fleeing Chicago.

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  4. "Pension payments this year total about $478 million. Next year, payments to police and fire pension funds will increase by $538 million under current state law"
    So pension payments go from $478 million this year to 1.01 billion next year?

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  5. The time will come - relatively soon - when the private sector "non-retiree" working at Walmart - because he can't afford to actually retire - making $25k per year, will be taxed at 50% to pay for the triple-digit pensions of government retirees out at 55.

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