Voting Against Property Tax Increase

November 16, 1995

Chicago Tribune

DALEY BUDGET PLAN OKD

By Nancy Ryan and John Kass, Tribune Staff Writers.

As attention focused on the details of Gary's proposed new home for the Bears, Chicago's aldermen abruptly changed their normal routine by passing a $19.5 million property-tax increase immediately after approving Mayor Richard Daley's $3.64 billion budget for 1996.

The tax hike was approved by a 45-3 vote, in a sharp departure from tradition under which votes on property-tax levies are not taken until a week or two after the budget has passed.

Ald. Helen Shiller (46th), William J.P. Banks (ah) and Brian Doherty (41st) cast the dissenting votes, while Ald. Terry Gabinski (32nd) and Bernard Stone (50th) left the council chambers before the vote was taken.

Shiller also cast the sole dissenting vote on a measure to raise other taxes and fees by $28.9 million and was the only alderman to oppose the budget in an earlier 49-1 vote.

Referring to the voting sequence, Ald. Patrick Huels (11th), Daley`s council floor leader, said: "Usually, this hasn't been done, but the majority of the people here support this year's budget, and there's just no one who wanted to delay the vote. There's just no reason to delay."

The property-tax increase will mean that owners of a home valued at $100,000 will pay an extra $15 a year in taxes. But Ald. John Buchanan (10th) and others noted that with increases in Cook County property taxes and a proposed boost from the Water Reclamation District, property owners would get socked and blame all the increases on Daley and the aldermen.

The other tax package includes a 30-cent increase in the current 95-cent tax on monthly telephone bills to finance construction of the new 911 emergency system; a 2 percent water rate increase for each of the next 3 years; a 5 percent increase in the sewer surcharge; and a 7 percent amusement tax for cable television users.

The swift passage of all three measures was another example of Daley's nearly monolithic support from the council.

"I work very closely with the aldermen," Daley said after the budget was passed. "Forty-nine to 1, especially with 8 or 10 new aldermen is very significant. I'm very proud."

The sole voice of total opposition came from Shiller, who attended every budget hearing over the last several weeks and declared, "I would feel extremely irresponsible if I stood up here today to vote in any way but no on the corporate budget."

Of the 123 questions on the budget she submitted to city departments, she added, only 35 were answered.

"We've had surpluses for the last several years," Shiller said, referring to 1995's $78 million surplus. "I do not know why we continue to build surpluses at the same time we're asking for an additional $20 million in property-tax enhancements."

But Ald. Virgil E. Jones (15th) said that wards that have been traditionally ignored, like predominantly black and Hispanic wards on the South and West Sides, are now receiving their share of services and improvements.

"For the last few years I can tell you each alderman in this room and each person in this community has been able to get some services that they have never been able to get since God knows when," Jones said.

In sharp contrast to the budget and the aldermen's drawn-out endorsements, the property tax hike elicited virtually no discussion except from Ald. Burton Natarus (42nd), who said the city needs more commercial properties to help raise its tax base.

He also complained that the city should have added more animal control officers to ticket dog owners who allow their animals to mar the landscape, and in doing so, provide food for rats.

"One of the most important causes of rats in this city is dog feces. If you asked Terry Howard, the rat man, the (city's) expert on rats, he'll tell you that dog feces is one of the No. 1 causes," Natarus proclaimed, as he looked over at Stone, whose head slumped to his desk.

"Berny, hold your head up, have courage," Natarus said . "It's one of the main problems in causing rats other than our restaurants ."

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