Home rule vote dies

The Cook County Board rejected a plan to let voters decide the fate of the county's home rule powers. A proposal to put the question on the Nov. 4 ballot was denied by the board 12-1. The question could still wind up on the ballot, but it would take more than 100,000 signatures on a petition that is due to the county clerk's office by Aug. 18, county officials said. Home rule allows taxing bodies to add or increase taxes without voter approval. Cook County is the only county in the state with home rule powers and it was enacted in 1970 without voter approval. Republican board member Tony Peraica was the initiative's sponsor and the lone vote in favor of putting the question to voters.