Daley is part of county's problem

Commissioner John Daley's recent letter to the editor was an entertaining work of fiction - but the taxpayers of Cook County deserve the truth. As Finance Chairman, Commissioner Daley has enabled and worked with Todd Stroger to increase the county payroll, and grow the size and bloat of the county budget.

He also wholeheartedly supported Stroger's massive sales tax increase that is hurting so many businesses and taxpayers throughout the county. John Daley also has been a full supporter of Todd Stroger's proposed $740 million bond proposal - a back door tax increase that would heap massive debt on the county taxpayers.

Back in September, I was proud to be one of only four commissioners to vote against the bond issue. During budget negotiations, I proposed a modest 6 percent budget cut and additional compromise cuts - and helped lead the charge against the massive bonds. In a victory for the county taxpayers, I'm proud to say we passed a budget that included no new tax increases and none of the massive borrowing sought by John Daley and Todd Stroger.

Recently, the county board also passed my proposed "transparency resolution" to put the county check register online for public viewing - and I have introduced a resolution to form a bipartisan, private sector "Waste Commission" to identify waste, abuse and opportunities for cost savings in the county budget.

It is also important to note that my commissioner's office returned more than $50,000 to the taxpayers last year - and my office has the smallest budget of any commissioner this year. While some commissioners talk the talk, some of us are walking the walk to reform county government and protect the county taxpayers.

Tony Peraica

Cook County Commissioner

Riverside