Times are tough in Chicago. You can only tax the citizenry so much – and Chicago already shares the distinction of being one of the most taxed cities in America.
The solution? Enforcement. No big surprise there.
But enforcement costs money. What if you could get your enforcement for free? What if… you could convince taxpayers to rat each other out? Brilliant. And so, Chicago Mayor Daley has introduced a “Tax Whistleblower Program” for 2010.
The program would reward taxpayers who turn in those with unpaid business taxes. Taxpayers who successfully bring in money to the city would receive a percentage as blood money bounty.
A good way to destroy the competition, perhaps? The Revenue Department is counting on it. Ed Walsh, a Revenue spokesperson says: “It would probably be … a business knowing that a competitor is not remitting a tax. An employee [of the tax-dodging business] could know that, too. Typically, you need to provide some type of incentive.”
Nice.
This way, all businesses in Chicago could live in fear of their competition – and their neighbors. But a little fear is healthy, right?
Who knows if other cities will follow suit? I’m setting up my telescope, just in case…
Illinois residents have been willing to deal with some pretty steep tax increases. But Gov. Pat Quinn may have gone too far this time: Quinn wants to tax coffee and sweetened tea products in grocery stores in the same manner as soft drinks.
Gov Quinn has also suggested raising taxes and fees on driver’s licenses (double to $20), license plates ($20 increase), hunting and fishing licenses, cigarettes ($1 increase) and tickets to the State Fair (horrors!). He also wants to extend the state’s sales tax to some shampoo and personal hygiene products.
Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, already has one of the most expensive tax structures in the country, with a sales tax of more than 10%. The newest proposals from the Governor – as well as those already in place in Cook County – are already drawing complaints. And the complaints don’t stop at the city line – residents all over the state have been protesting what they consider “nickel and dime” reactions to a massive budget crunch.
Proponents of the various tax and fee increases argue that they have no real alternatives. Without additional increases on fees and sales taxes, they claim that property taxes will face another increase – or worse (we all know what that means: income taxes!).
Ugh. I know that states and municipalities are suffering in this economy. And I know that taxation feels like the fastest, easiest way to increase revenue. My own great city of Philadelphia has been talking up property and sales tax increases, too, to attack a massive deficit. But taxing coffee? Even bottled, that’s just heresy!
In 2007, BlogHer was in Chicago (great location, wonderful city). In 2008, BlogHer was in San Francisco: I made no secret about my disappointment with SF. I had waited, it felt like, eons to make it there and, well, it was no great shakes. Lovely weather, beautiful buildings but crazy expensive as all get out (don’t get me started), overrun with tourists and sadly, a really aggressive and disconcerting panhandling population. I don’t say that last bit lightly, as I live in a major city (Philadelphia) and am fairly well traveled. But this post isn’t about that. It’s about next year.
So now, the powers that be are plotting where to put BlogHer 2009. My answer? Philadelphia. It’s east coast, it’s an airport hub, we have trains, there are lots of great hotels and restaurants to fit all budgets. Yeah, that last part is key: it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. And Philly is friendly to bloggers.
But that’s just me.
If you’re a blogger and you’re thinking about BlogHer for next year, give the poll a whirl. It’s here:
I’d also love to hear your thoughts here on taxgirl!
Chicago has the highest sales tax in the country with its newest sales tax increase and surprisingly, folks aren’t happy about it. So the politicians did what they always did – they argued about it.
And here’s where it gets complicated.
County Board President Todd Stroger had instituted the ordinance that actually raised the tax, beginning July 1. Two ordinances to repeal that ordinance were introduced on Wednesday. Those ordinances were voted down by a vote of 10-7. So, we’re back to square one.
Political maneuvering ruled the day and, of course, lots and lots of bickering about the justification for both the tax and the repeal. But at the end of the day, the campaign against the increase called “Axe the Corruption Tax” fell flat.
