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Now on Facebook!
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Connect with Commissioner Goslin on Facebook to find out what he's working on in the District and what he's been reading in the news.
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Sales Tax Repeal Update: Veto Sustained
13 County Commissioners voted today to overturn President Stroger's veto of the
0.5% sales tax reduction, one less than was needed to implement the partial
repeal of the 1% sales tax increase. After
much heated discussion, one of the fourteen sponsors of the motion to overturn
the veto changed their vote, causing the motion to fail.
The proposed 0.5% tax reduction was the result
of a hard fought and contentious compromise to ensure that the partial
repeal could pass over the veto of the County President. Today's failure to implement this
partial repeal gives the Board only one more chance-at the September 16 Board
Meeting-to pass a sales tax reduction before the October 1 deadline. If we cannot
reach the necessary 14 votes before then, the full 1% sales tax
increase will remain in effect.
From the beginning, I have opposed the 1%
sales tax increase, as I believe it is an undue burden upon County
taxpayers. I believe that with
aggressive stream-lining and increased professionalization of County operations,
enough savings can be realized to maintain County services without the increased
sales tax. The independent Health &
Hospitals System Board has served as an inspiring example for other County
departments with its submission of a FY2010 budget that reflects a severely
reduced headcount and vigorous cost saving measures throughout the system.
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Prohibiting Video Gambling
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As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, at today's Board Meeting I sponsored an ordinance amendment to reiterate the County's prohibition on Video Gambling.
Although County ordinance already prohibits video gambling in unincorporated areas, I feel it is important to reinforce this prohibition in light of the State's recent passage of the Illinois Video Gaming Act, which legalizes video gambling, but permits counties and
municipalities to opt out by ordinance
Along with Commissioner Gainer, I plan to host a public hearing to discuss this proposal and give citizens, businesses, as well as local municipalities, the opportunity to speak out on this issue. I will send out details about the date and time of the hearing when it is scheduled.
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Taxing District Debt Disclosure Ordinance
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The proposed Taxing District Debt Disclosure Ordinance I sponsored in May was approved at today's Board Meeting. The goal of the ordinance is to increase transparency of financial information pertaining to taxing districts in Cook County. The Treasurer's Office has prepared a format for maintaining electronic records of the most recent audited financial statements and financial conditions for each taxing district. The web-address of these electronic records will be provided on all regularly issued tax bills to ensure easy access by county residents. This Ordinance was approved.
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Health & Hospital System Update
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In August I sent out a newsletter entitled "Upcoming September
Legislation" which previewed my proposal to remove the sunset clause
from the Cook County Health & Hospitals System
Ordinance and cement the independence of
the CCHHS Board. The CCHHS Board has done a tremendous job in the past year as evidenced by their recent budget proposal for FY2010, which elminated 1400 full-time positions and a variety of other cost-cutting measures.
The CCHHS has hosted public hearings all over the County, soliciting input through from the community and showing a serious interest in
strategic development and the efficient delivery of quality services to County
residents. After conferring with William Foley, the CEO of the Health & Hospitals System and Chairman Warren Batts of the CCHHS Board, I have decided to delay this ordinance amendment until the release of the Health & Hospitals System Strategic Plan due out in November.
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In the District
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Palatine Township
Approved variation to reduce front yard setback from 40 feet to 38 feet (existing) for a
proposed addition in the R-4 Single Family Residence District. The
subject property consists of approximately 0.48 of an acre, located on the east
side of Perry
Drive, approximately 69
feet north of Baker
Drive in Palatine
Township.
Northfield Township
Approved variation to reduce rear yard setback
from 40 feet to 28 feet for a new two car garage addition; and reduce right
side yard setback from 10 feet to 3.5 feet (existing deck) in the R-5 Single
Family Residence District. The subject property consists of approximately
0.23 of an acre, located on the southeast side of Applegate Lane
and Applegate
Road in Northfield
Township.
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Let's
have a conversation! As always, feel free to
reply to this newsletter, send me an email or give me a call about any
Cook County issue.
Sincerely,
Gregg |
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