Shoppers bypass Cook Co. to avoid tax hike

For Leslie Kaehler, avoiding the 1 percentage point sales tax increase that went into effect in Cook County Tuesday is a matter of "principle more than a few cents."

By lunchtime, the Bartlett woman had driven several extra miles to an Ulta store in Kildeer to shop for hairspray and shampoo, passing over the Arlington Heights Ulta that's "probably 5 or 7 minutes from my office."

"It just irritates me," she said. "We've got pretty high property taxes already."

Just as Cook County business owners feared, many shoppers crossed the border into Lake County Tuesday, happy to take advantage of a 7 percent sales tax vs. Cook's new rate of about 10 percent, depending on the specific town.

The public outcry heard in the few months since the Cook County Board voted 9-8 in favor of the sales tax hike has one official hoping to ward off an exodus - especially to buy big-ticket items.

Commissioner Tony Peraica announced Tuesday he'll introduce a resolution at the July 22 meeting to repeal the increase.

In the meantime, Palatine's Kate Hall has yet another reason to shop in Lake County.

"I come here all the time," she said as she headed to Old Navy at the Shops at Kildeer to pick up her two daughters. "We started even before this new sales tax. I go to Binny's liquor store down Rand Road because the sales tax is way cheaper. The tax on the restaurants are cheaper here, also."

Many residents are quick to blame Cook County Board President Todd Stroger for their shrinking pocketbooks.

"We pay enormous taxes to the county and get nothing in return," said Joy Spata, of Arlington Heights.

Carol Pfister of Palatine says she admires the board members who "took a stand against Stroger." She nixed going to a nearby Bed Bath and Beyond and Famous Footwear to shop at their Lake County locations.

"Anything expensive I'll obviously come (to Lake County)," said Pfister.

Yet, not everyone is willing to make the trek.

"Right now, we don't know if people are going to go all the way to Lake County," said Carmen Serna of Palatine. "The gasoline is very expensive, too. It depends how much you're going to shop. How much are you going to pay in gas?"

Spata agreed that any savings would be negated by gas prices and time.

"Staying in Cook County is worth the convenience unless it's something really expensive," she said.

But Alina Felde of Arlington Heights says Americans don't appreciate how good they've got it.

"I'm from Europe, where the tax is 18 percent and we pay double for gasoline," said Felde, who was shopping for a $1,200 camera at the Lake Zurich Circuit City. "This is totally cool with me."

Still, Felde plans to head to Deer Park and Vernon Hills before Schaumburg for the savings.

Peraica has a few weeks to lobby his fellow commissioners, but he's specifically targeting swing voter Larry Suffredin. In exchange for Suffredin's vote in favor of the tax increase, Stroger relinquished control of the bureau of health to an independent board.

Suffredin couldn't be reached for comment Tuesday.

"Public pressure is building especially in areas talking about secession like Palatine," said Peraica. "No one's committing to me at this point, but it just takes one."

Other officials continue to be vocal in their opposition to the new tax. About 200 protesters, including Peraica and State Sen. Matt Murphy of Palatine, met Tuesday at the State of Illinois Plaza downtown to rally against it. Closer to home, Palatine Councilman Scott Lamerand and Palatine Township Clerk Kevin O'Connell are taking the revolutionary route, asking residents and business owners to mail tea bags to Stroger and the board.