Photo courtesy of Crain's Chicago Business

Michael Reever, Vice President of Government Relations for theChicagoland Chamber of Commerce, testified before the Cook County Board in opposition to the proposed 1% increase to the county sales tax rate on Wednesday, July 15.

“With this tax hike, the taxpayers of Chicago and Cook County will again be paying the highest sales tax in the nation,” Reever said. “Thisregressive tax increase hurts citizens with the least financial resources the most. It leaves Cook County businesses at a competitivedisadvantage as shoppers will easily travel to the collar counties to shop and play.”

Reever stressed that the Chamber would be committed to supporting th Cook County pension reform proposal and working with President Preckwinkle to push for a clean “up or down” vote in Springfield. Still, he said, this is a regressive tax in what amounts to a race to the bottom as far as solving the financial crises.

“At a time when businesses, and individual taxpayers for that matter are getting hit from all sides by all levels of government, it is time we give thought to a more comprehensive approach by all levels of government,” Reever said.

Click here to read the Chamber’s full testimony.

Click here to read the Crain’s Chicago Business story on the Cook County sales tax increase.