File #: 18-5880    Version: 1 Name: TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD TO ENACT ANY NEW OR ADDITIONAL TAX IN COOK COUNTY
Type: Ordinance Amendment Status: Filed
File created: 9/11/2018 In control: Legislation and Intergovernmental Relations Committee
On agenda: 9/12/2018 Final action: 11/21/2018
Title: PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT REQUIRING A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD TO ENACT ANY NEW OR ADDITIONAL TAX IN COOK COUNTY WHEREAS, multiple cities as well as states have either enacted or considered a supermajority requirement for tax increases as it provides residents with another level of protection from unpopular taxes, and WHEREAS, taxpayers expect reasonable limits, like a 2/3 majority vote requirement for tax increases in order to protect them from controversial votes being used to raise or create new taxes without broad public support, and WHEREAS, the burden of new and increased taxes that falls on the shoulders of Cook County residents should not be left to a simple majority vote, and WHEREAS, the process of both increasing taxes and creating new taxes should be agreed upon by a large majority of those who will be effected by them, and WHEREAS, the board should establish the requirement that all new taxes and new tax increases can only be enacted by a two third ma...
Sponsors: TIMOTHY O. SCHNEIDER, SEAN M. MORRISON, RICHARD R. BOYKIN, GREGG GOSLIN, JOHN A. FRITCHEY

title

PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

 

REQUIRING A TWO THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD TO ENACT ANY NEW OR ADDITIONAL TAX IN COOK COUNTY

 

WHEREAS, multiple cities as well as states have either enacted or considered a supermajority requirement for tax increases as it provides residents with another level of protection from unpopular taxes, and

 

WHEREAS, taxpayers expect reasonable limits, like a 2/3 majority vote requirement for tax increases in order to protect them from controversial votes being used to raise or create new taxes without broad public support, and

 

WHEREAS, the burden of new and increased taxes that falls on the shoulders of Cook County residents should not be left to a simple majority vote, and

 

WHEREAS, the process of both increasing taxes and creating new taxes should be agreed upon by a large majority of those who will be effected by them, and

 

WHEREAS, the board should establish the requirement that all new taxes and new tax increases can only be enacted by a two third majority vote from the Board of Commissioners.

 

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED, by the Cook County Board of Commissioners that Chapter 2, Sec. 105 (f) is hereby amended as follows:

 

(f) Majority votes. Except as otherwise provided in these rules, and except for questions for which a higher majority is required by law, all questions shall be determined by a majority vote of those Commissioners entitled to vote. Any question which enacts a new form of taxation, or increase in taxation, shall require a two thirds majority vote of the board in order to pass. A vote of “present shall not be counted in determining the number of Commissioners voting on a question

 

Effective date:  This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption

 

end