Could a Commuter Tax on Chicago's Suburbanites Work?

Chicago aldermen are toying with just that idea, which would involve a one-percent income tax on those who work but don't live in the city. Hal Dardick reports on the discussion.

1 minute read

September 28, 2011, 6:00 AM PDT

By Judy Chang


"Ald. George Cardenas, 12th, 'like[s] the fact that in the city, we all must sink or swim together... and I think the people who love this city must partake in its fruits and also its pains.'

But Ald. Patrick O'Connor, 40th, Mayor Rahm Emanuel's closest City Council ally, dismissed the idea of a commuter tax.

'I'm not quite sure that that's necessarily the best thing for this region at the time, given where we're at,' he said. 'It's all well and good for us to think that we want to solve our problems, but there's a region that exists around Chicago.'"

Tuesday, September 27, 2011 in Chicago Tribune

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