2/7/2007
Illinois County to Impose SUV TaxCook County, Illinois is proposing to tax sport utility vehicle owners and increase the number of cars confiscated by the sheriff.

To make up for a half-billion dollar deficit, Cook County, Illinois is proposing to tax sport utility vehicle owners and increase the number of cars confiscated by the sheriff. County commissioners yesterday offered a number of revenue-raising proposals. Many of these were called "fees" so that County Board President Todd Stroger could say, "I will not raise taxes to balance this budget."
As Cook County has a population of five-and-a-half million people, including the city of Chicago, the proposals will raise millions. The $50 annual tax on SUV owners would also apply to residents who own any vehicle weighing more than 4500 pounds. Commissioners would also increase the fine levied for seizing vehicles to $500, encouraging the sheriff to confiscate vehicles with noisy stereos or minor paperwork violations.
Other proposals include a 10-cent-per-bullet tax on ammunition, a "pollution tax" and a doubling of the cost for environmental fees and permits.