Webloggin » Such a Deal

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley has now stated that he is scaling back his plans for a massive tax increase. Under the new plan he will only take 83 million dollars in extra property taxes instead of the original estimate of 108 million. Interesting in the news article is the way the administration presents the numbers. The city estimates that under the new, slimmer, plan that it would only cost the owner of a $250,000 home an additional $60 per year, down from the original plan’s estimate of $80. This method of selling an increase isn’t unique to Chicago but I challenge you to find me all of those $250,000 homes in the Chicago city limits. Maybe in the Englewood neighborhood with boards on the windows but darn sure not in Garfield Ridge, Beverly or Edison Park. It is always easier to sell a tax grab using an unrealistic scenario lending the appearance of frugality. the Mayor also plans to reduce his tax request on a bottle of water from $.10 to .$05 making a case of bottled water only 25% more expensive instead of 50. While he claims the property tax increase will be dedicated towards building libraries it hardly imbues one with confidence that the money will get to its designation without the Mayor’s friends and family program getting their share.

A decrease in the amount requested is a tactic used, whether by design or consequence, to make it look like a deal when considering the original proposal but it cannot be considered so when contrasted to the status quo. That being exorbitant taxation and little to show for it beyond the wrought iron and flower boxes in the loop. Of course, that is unless you are one of the privileged.

Try an austerity budget Mr. Mayor. When you’ve trimmed all of the fat, perhaps you may already have enough.

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