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Cook County Amusement Tax Proposal Draws Fire From Some Commissioners

(CBS) -- Some Cook County commissioners are raising their voices against plans to impose a county amusement tax on top of Chicago's existing tax, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

County Commissioner John Fritchey says County Board President Toni Preckwinkle should further streamline county government rather than impose an additional amusement tax on working people and seniors for things like cable television and bowling.

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"Let's think about what we're doing to people looking at raising the amusement tax, having the highest sales tax in the country, the largest property tax increase in the city of Chicago's history and possibly another state increase in the income tax," he said. "We need to take a stop and look at what we're doing. People are running out of belts to tighten now."

But a spokesman for Preckwinkle says the administration has already targeted $100 million in expense cuts and is trying to balance that with moderate non-traditional revenue. He says there are limits to where the county can turn for more cuts. Reducing jobs would be likely.

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