Alderman: Suburban Commuters Who Work In Chicago Should Pay $200 Fee

(CBS) -- Should people who live outside of Chicago but commute here to work pay an annual fee?

One Chicago alderman says yes and has a plan to make the city some money.

CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reports.

Ald. George Cardenas (12th) proposes that commuters begin paying $200 annually. That way, he says, they would help pick up the tab for streets and rail lines that they use.

"It's a non-resident's fee," he says.

The revenue would help plug a 2016 budget hole he estimates at $800 million. He says it could add $200 million to help fund police response, street repair and traffic control.

The $200 fee would be collected from workers through their employers. If workers refuse, the fee would be paid by the employer.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association opposes the idea, saying, "This proposal is just a head tax … and the mayor and city council had the wisdom to roll back that job killing tax."

Spokespersons for Mayor Rahm Emanuel could not be reached for comment.